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"VOL. LXH.No. 75
KWJBE,7N.JG. THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 18, 1913
i The Weather FAIR,
F1V. CENTS PER COPY
nEPORT ON THE
. W. & L DEPT
Mr.: Editor:
'Kindly publish the following) report
:on the Water and Light department
CHAPTER, VI.
Light And Water Department Ac
, , counts.
y i vi "Before dealing with each department
specifically, we call attention in a gen.
' eral way to the books and records gov;
ermng the income.
" : '-'The collector, Mr. J. C. Thomas
Jr., seem to have entire charge of the
. .... . i . M- 17 T ! '
billing ana conecuom ;; ivir. i. i w
terson.' City - Clerk, entered the col
lections from the stubs of the Collector's
i feceipts . into separate Cash Books
,one for Light Collections and one tor
water collections, and in turn posted such
credits s to the . Consumer's . Accounts
" in a ledger provided either Light or
" "Water, as the case might be.
"Inasmuch as Mr. Thomas did not
furnish Mr. Patterson with a copy
, of the bill for service in fact, no re
cord was made of such bills sent out
Mr. Patterson had no way of knowing,
in a Jarge number of cases withoift
consulting the collector, what the par
; ticular payments covered, the informa-
tion oh the stubs being often indefinite
or misleading in other words, instead
of the charge for services being posted
to a i Ledger Account and governing
the amount paid, the amount, paid
- went to the Ledger first and from it to
debit or charge, entry was set up
, and if no collection was made, very
frequently no charge appeared, though
. . ' the consumer was indebted to the city
i for service and in the case of. the
r old ledger used up to July, 1912, no
!,ib charge in anv instance was made
: against the consumer. ' .
. "The result of such procedure was a
' set of accounts in a deplorable and
.-?.- -- chaotic condition which Mr. Thomas
1 could : not satisfactorily explain ' and
' finally refused to assist in straightening
i out.. He also stated that, he had nothing
i i : '.'to do with the ledgers and did not know
: s - , tne condition they were in, but this
-statement is not bourne out by inform
:,. If ,- :,ation furnished tis that the attention
.1 ; of Mr, McCarthy,-ex-Mayor, as well
", ' as ' Mr. Thomas, ..was directed to it
" ly the Auditing '.Committee.: and in
' addition to this, the manner in ,which
'- -' the accounts were collected from parties
Vjr J; w who had not paid for several months,
" ' ' ' "necessitated reference by the Collector
. C ' to the Ledgers. '
--"The" same scondition as ..we found
. 1 - during the period under, audit existed
- prior to April 1st,. 1911, and we fail
'. to " understand why mention was not
' - r" " made in the report of Mr. Leslie Abbott,
' .as the bound ledger in use at that time
' :: -was more of a memorandum book than
:v.fi '-s!'. ja ledgert nor , was this condition men
tioned in the report of May 1st, 1913,
i ' Tendered by Mr. T. B. Kehoe. ; DJs-
?j r, , r regarding these special audits, Chapter
' ' 's : , 2, Section .; 5, of the .City : Ordinances
is very.definite in specifying. the duties
, . of the collector1 ' ' 1
-i ", 'The' Board shall, annually elect
j a collector ' for the .i water, sewerage
' , . and electric Jighf plants for one year.
.'..He shall give . a good4and ' sufficient
i. t . i' bond in- the sum. of . Two Thousand
4 Dollars which shall he approved by the
'i ; Board of Aldermen.; Said bond to be,
payable to the city of. New. Bern and
a. conditioned; for the duei collection
. payment and settlement of all money
due to the City of -New, Bern by the
patrons of the water, sewerage and light
v&' plaata; Mt -shall settle-weekly with the
-s.. : Treasurrt. : He shall render a Statement
: to the Board oj ' Aldermen at the regular
meeting1, each month, showing -amount
. collected and amount due and unpaid.
He shall furnish the Board of Aldermen
a complete list in detail of every user
' of water,- sewer and lights and when a
name is added, report the same to the
: Board. The Board of Aldermen may. at
' t any time, upon , notice in meeting
v after . giving twenty. days' notice,
' 1 require . the collector to give 1 ad
ditional sureties when required, the
. . Board may then declare the office
vacnat and proceed to elect his suc
cessor. All accounts due Ike water,
sewer and light plants shall be placed
in his hands for collection and if Said
coll dor shall fail to collect same in a
r?i5i." ..' time and pay over to the
Tr urer all s'"s due, then his fail
i f ! ' u'.l le .st!n"!:'ent cause
' -' I - - f ! t J r y
' " . "ir t
Jas.Vickcrsham
:::::KMo:::iJ
Mr." Wickersham, delegate in
Congress from Alaska, complains
bitterly of the way the government
has treated that territory.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WILL
MEET TONIGHT.
There will be an important meeting
of the Executive Committee of the
Eistern Carolina Fair Association Com.
apny at the office of the Secretary
tonight at 8 o'clock. Every member is
urged to be present as matters of inv
portance are to be transacted.
:,;: .-- , .- :'
PLATES FOR ENGRAVED CARDS
AT THE JOURNAL OFFICE.
The stock of plates for engaved
cards which were in the possession of
George N. Ennett, has been turned over
to the E. J. Land Printing Company
and those desiring a new supply of
cards are requested to leave their
order, at the Journal office.
Allen Ives arrived in the city yester
day from Bedford City, Va., where he
is a student at The Randolph Macon
Preparatory School, to spend Christ
mas with his parents.
and Boa'd of Aldermen to know why
the above was not being complied with
and why the collector was not giving
full attention to the duties of his office
"The 'city paid for a duplicate form
of receipt one copy to be given to, the
consumer and an exact copy to ' remain
in' the book for proper; entry,: yet
we find it was analmost universal practice
for the collector to write Bp his collec
tions on the stubs only, discarding the
use of the original altogether. . j
In order to arrive at 'as true a con
dition of . the ' accounts as possible.
it was necessary, to construct entirely
new-accounts from the original meter
readings and fiat" rate memorandums.
In numbers of cases, we-' found that
special reduced rates, had been granted
consumers- ttr the detriment of '-other
consumers who used as much or more
current and that no 'proper authority
was found to justify such action. ' v
f We-' used the prevailing rates . or
basis of consumption from April 1st,
1911,, to' the time the inventory .was
taken by Mr. Geo, ' D. Dail was ac
cepted by the BoardAldermen of ,;; and
by them Ordered -to be placed in the
Ledgers' -, .- - 'i
"The statements were 'made -in du--
plicate and One copy mailed to each
consumer, concerned,, with the requests
that they check :up the account and
return to us certifying as to its correct
ness. ( The ' attitude of the consumers
was very disappointing f to . us: " while
some .took the trouble to look up their
receipts and ; bills, , the majority, pafd
no attention to the" request, yet. in
some instances, we know there wer
errors in the accounts."' "' "
VWe ,found accounts where" the Dail
nventory had been entered in which
certain light or -'water service had been
noted "Out,1 1 we understand v Mr;
Thomas's instructions, and. no charge
made,, and "yet investigation, at our
request found the ' service being used
and ' that . it ; had been: used for ' the
entire term, rand , w consequently,
in making the new accounts, charged
or all such items, , , .
Taking the - Ledgers as we found
them, ; the accounts to ' the : average
person would appear to have been pro
perly kept and promptly'- collcaed,
yet this. was far from the actual ron-
ition of which the accounts themp '-i
e t'.s best evidence. r- In many
' ' i hid moved and the a
i 3 1 1 not bren clian-jj ;
C- .Is ' 1 ca i ;3 4.
THIRTY-EIGHT ARE
KILLED IN MINE
Coal Dust Responsible 1'wo Res
cued Out Of The Jaws
Of Death.
M.ANY
Several
OF BODIES MANGLED
Days Before All
Can Be Recov
ered. Bodies
New castle, Colo., Dec. 17. Thirty
eight men were killed in the Vulcan
mine ofhe Rocky Mountain Fuel Com
pany today by an explosion of coal
dust. Two miners were rescued after
the underground workings had., caught;
fire. All the victims were married, and
all but ' six or eight were Americans.
Men in charge of the rescue work
asserted tonight that it probably
would be a day or two before the bod
ied could be recovered. Before sum
down the mine had been cleared of gas.
and a thorough exploration of the
wrecked workings was made.
Many of the bodies were mangled
and burned. .
Father J. P. Corrigan, of Glenwood,
Springs, near here, hurried to New
castle at the first news of the explo
sioa. The priest rushed into the smok
ing pit among -the first of the rescuers
in search of dying to whom he might
administer the last rites of the church.
The Vulcan mine was only about a
year old 'and was equipped with mod
ern safety devices. It is believed the
explosion was caused by an accumula
tion of dust in the west portion of the
mine where work practically had been
abandoned. Most of the dead were
found in the east workings to which the
explosion was communicated.
This fall the employes of the mine
were called out on strike by the United
Mine Workers of America, but some
of them had gone back to work. The
other victims of today's disaster were
strike breakers.
NO RECOHM FOR
NEW BERN POSTMASTER
SENATOR SIMMONS HAS, SO
FAR, MADE NO ANNOUNCE
MENT. The prediction that Senator F. M
Simmons would yesterday make recom
mendation of a postmaster for the New
Bern postoffice did not materialise
and it is probable that the fortunate
aspirant will not be named until
tomorrow. - . 1
While no one can say definitely
when Senator Simmons will make this
recommendation, there is every reason
to believe that it will be made , t.his
week. He stated last week to i news
paper correspondent at Washington
that the office would be filled this week
and it is believed that such will be the
The suspense of waiting for the words
which will prove fatal to the aspira
tions' of three of the four candidates
is telling on their friends and the public
in; general. Nor -only are the citizens
of New Bern greatly interested but all
over this section the people are taking
an interest in- the ,affai. The Journal
last night,, had twenty or more telephone
calls v from citizens. of other u towns,
asking -if the ..appointment had been
made and an - even . larger number of
requests from local citizensf;:' '. '..
Interest: in thc-fliatter continues at
fever heat and the action of Senator
Simmons' is awaited with much'anti
cipation. , , ,
VOUNG DRUG CLERK HAS AP-
: r. PENDICITIS.
. V , if - - ' " ' ' ' l ;
John' Crowell, one of ' the popular
yourijr clerks ; in Bradham s Pollock
street drug store, has been" stricken
with an attack of appendicitis and is
now undergoing treatment at Stewart's
sanatorium.;? His. condition - is not
considered critical. ,t!:w . - ? ,
THE CHRISTMAS SOUTHERN E-
' V ANGEL IS OUT. V:
The December number of the South
ern Evangel, the official organ of the
Tabernacle Baptist , Church, j is " just
ora the presses- of i the E.: , J, Land
tinting Company8 '. This magazine,
ach is edited by Miss Louise Herndon,
h one of the most interesting religious
I ' cations in-the State and enjoys
i I 3 circulation.
Senator T.P. Gore
V
Senator Thomas P. Gore, of Okla
homa, has been sued for $50,000
damages by Mrs. Minnie E. Bond,
of Oklahoma City, who charges
that the senator slandered her.
The suit is the outcome of charges
made last winter in Washington
by Mrs. Bond.
Owing to circumstances Dr. Parrott
cannot be present to night at the
union service to be held in the Presby
terian Church, therefore there will
be the usual prayer service in the
following churches: Centenary, First
Baptist and First Presbyterian.
POLICE WATCHING FOR
NEW HANOVERQUARTETTE
TWO YOUNG LADIES AND TWO
YOUNG MEN DIS
APPEAR. The New Bern authorities have been
requested to be on the lookout for
James Streeter and John E. Johnson,
of Wilmington, and Miss Beulah Pettitt
and Myrtle Corbett, of Middle sound,
New Hanover county, who dhsppeared
Sunday and have not since been seen
by any of their friends.
Yesterday s Wilmington Star had
the following to say in regard to the
disappearance of the quartette:
"Before day yesterday morning the
police at headquarters were asked to
assist in a search for two young cou
ples, who seem to have disappeared
from Middle Sound during Sunday
while services were being held at
one of. the churches there, the cir
cumstances being such as to indicate
that1 the young 'people have left for
Other parts to conclude romantic mar
riages, which may have been planned
on the spur of the moment or may
have, been in contemplation for per
haps a longer period. '.
. ..'.'The parties are Mr. James Streeter,
about 17 years old, a son of Rev.' Wm.
E. Streeter, No. 1121 South Ninth
street; Mr. John E. Johnson, ofWil
ming ton, -between 25 and 30 years old;
Miss Beulah Pettett, said to be 17 or
18 years. of age, a daughter of Mr.
John Pettett, and Miss Myrtie Corbett,
said to be younger and a daughter of
Mr. Obdiah Corbett, both the young
ladies residing on Middle Sound and
being pousins.
"The circumstances were reported to
the police by Rev. Mr. Streeter, fa
ther of one of the young men; Mr, Pet
tett,' father of one of the younjg ladies,
and .. Mr.. Luther , Smith, of Middle
Sounds who; accompanied them to the
city. - Mr, Stfeeter had been accompa
nied to the sound by his son and had
filled his regular appointment at the
church- for the .morning service while
the young' people were left to their
own ; devices. In , the afternoon for
Sunday school ' neither of . the couples
had put in an appearance, but think
ing they had been detained perhaps at
the home of some one of the communi
ty, no alarm was felt.
But when they failed to, appear for
the night service and some one in the
neighborhood heard that four -young
people had been seen hastening to the
city in a : buggy, it was at once sus
pected .that 'the young folks had de
termined urton ' a 'romantic ' marriage,
and 'very 'soon the, 'older heads' " were
off ia search of them. ' Upon -return
ing to hm home in the city, Mr. Street-
found that the horse and buggy that
been returned and a note- from his
son stated his intention of marrying
Miss Pettett and gave an intimation
that Mr. Johnson also had' matrimonial
intentions-: towards Miss Corbett, lor
which, however ,- young : Streeter is
said to have expressed some regret" , i
BIG LANO SALE AT
VANGEBOFEO TODAY
VALUABLE PROPERTY TO
SOLD AT PUBLIC AUC
TION. BE
One of the biggest land sales ever
held in this section of North Carolina
will take place today at Vanceboro
when the old W. J. White property,
which has been cut up into twenty
five business lots, fifty residence lots
and five small farms will be sold at
public auction by the famous Penny
Brothers.
Vanceboro is one of the most progres
sive towns in this section. Among the
other things that it has is a bank with
deposits of fifty thousand dollars
and a handsome new brick bank build
ing is now in course of construction.
Craven county's new Farm Life School
is also located there, and there is much
building in progress and being con
templated. Arrangements have been made to
feed a large number of persons
who will, today, attend the sale. Sand
wiches, soft drinks and fruit have been
prepared and no one will be allowed to
go hungry during the day. A cordial
invitation is extended the public to
attend. '
CITIZENPASSES AWAY
WIFE OF DECEASED FORMERLY
LIVED IN THIS
CITY.
(loldsboro, N. C, Dec. 17. Mr. V.
C. Munroc died at his home in this
city yesterday morning al 1:30
o'clock, surrounded by his immediate
family, who for days had been ex
pecting the end. He had been in de
clining health lor many years. His
passing causes widespread sorrow,
not only to t his com limit y, where
his life for 30 years has been as an
open book and an inspiration to (iod-
liness and a model in professional
ethics and industry, but to the State
at large, for he was widely known and
universally esteemed.
il . iwunroe was the ranking mem
ber of the Goldsboro bar in point o
years and ability as well, and his con
ferees rendered him filial respect tha
was as beautiful as it was real, and
tneir sorrow at nis aeatn was given
expression, when in open court
Judge Bland presiding, Judge W. S.
O'B. Robinson, who at one time was
co-partner of Mr. Mun.-oe in the prac
tice oi law, ieeungiy announced nis
death and moved the aiournment of
court out of respect to his memory,
until Wednesday morning, and that
a committee ol tne local oar associa
tion be appointed to draft suitable
resolutions in his honor. Judge Rland
feelingly approved this course and
the order was so enrolled upon the
minute docket of the court.
Mr. Munroe is survived by his wife
who was Miss Kate Street, of New
Bern; two daughters, Miss Mary Scott
Monroe and Mrs. W. H. Best, of this
city, and one sister, Mrs. D. H. Mr-
Arn, of Laurinburg, all of whom were
at his bedside when the end came. De
ceased was a devoted member of the
First Presbyterian churdh of this city
and had been one of its deacons for
years.
l he funeral was held from the
home on East Center Street, South
this morning at 11 o'clock, conducted
by Rev. Peter Mclntyre, of Faison, a
personal friend of the deceased, and
the interment was made in the family
plot in Willow Dale cemetery.-
MISS ROSA TOLSON IMPROVING
The many friends of Miss Rosa Tol
son will be delighted to learn that she
has sufficiently recovered front an at
tack of appendicitis to be removed from
the hospital to her home. -"'
LAST
CHANCE TO BUY
CROSS SEALS.
RED
. As a last chance to buy the Red
Cross Christmas Seals, the manage
ment will place them on sale at the
postoffice; Ed. Clark's, the Wood-Lane
and Bradham Drug stores every ' day
uunng vuniunu weeic, ana nave com
mittees of young ladies in charge of
stamp tables. It is hoped that the sales
will be large'' during ' the '' remainder
of the days before Christmas, and we
trust that every parcel and letter sent
out will bear its Red. Cross Christmas
Seal message, , - . 1 r , ;
10
OFFENDERS
IN THE TOILS
Colored Fugitive From The Law
Is Apprehended In Ons
low County.
SYRIAN UNDER CHARGE
George Saad Is Accused Of Hat
ing Two Living
Wives.
Some time ago Arthur Slade, colored,
was placed under arrest on a charge
of stealing a pair of shoes from another
negro. Slade was placed under arrest
and taken before Justice of the Peace
H. C. Wood at Riverdale and was gives
a preliminary hearing. Probable cause
was found and the defendant bound
over to the next term of Cravea
county Superior Court.
The alleged offender could not give
bond and a special officer started to
bring him to New Bern and place him
in jail. When about four miles froat
this city, Slade jumped from the buggy
and made his escape. Sheriff R. B.
Lane has been on the lookout of the
fugitive ever since and last Monday
located him at Camp Pender, about
ten miles from Jacksonville. Sheriff
Lane wired Sheriff Henderson, of
Onslow county to arrest him and this
was done and he was last night brought
to New Bern and placed in the county
jail where he will remain until the next
term of Superior Court.
Sheriff Lane was also instrumental
in causing the apprehension and ar
rest yesterday of another offender of the
law. This is George Saad, a Syriaa
who formerly conducted a small store
in this city. Saad is said to be a biga
mist. It is claimed that he has a wife
living in the Old Country and also one
in America. Several days ago the
brother of the woman across the pond,
who elaims to be the legal wife of the
aliened offender, came over to this
country and proceeded to tell all he
knew of the affair. This resulted is
complicating matters and Saad decided
to depart for more peaceful climes.
When he left .New Bern the Syriaa
told friends that he was going to Nor
folk. Sheriff Lane, however, decided
that this wasa bluff and at once wired
to the Sheriff at Elizabeth City to
arrest him if he was at that place.
Sure enough Sheriff Lane's surmise was
correct and Saad was taken in custody
at that place and brought back to New
Bern.
At a preliminary hearing yesterday
before Justice of the Peace S. R. Street
the defendant gave bond in the sum of
sixty dollars and was released from
custody.
An All Star Company Pre
senting High Class Tab
loid Musical Comedies
will appear at the Athens again today,
matinee and night. This company
is one of the best and most refined
attractions ever booked by us. We
know of no one not perfectly pleased
who has seen and heard them. Tur
out and hear them tonight, and
our excellent picture program, as fol
lows.
"Fashion's Story."
A beautiful love drama told by ths
Lubin players.
"Broncho Billy's Oath."
A stirring Western drama by the
Essanay Co., featuring the world fa.
mous cowboy player G. M. Anderson.
Cornwall, the English Riviera.'
One of the most beautiful srnnr
pictures ever thrown upon a moving
picture screen.
"The Comedian's Downfall."
A very funny Edison come'dv deal
ing with a militant suffragette.
Matinee daily at 3:45. 2 showa ar .
night, 1st starts at 7:30. 2d about 9-A&
o'clock. ,
When you want to see a srand. hit '
long show, consisting of a splendid
musical .comedy, three reels of the best .
association pictures shown in the Sfat
come to the Athens, a real theatre.
Duut tor the business," with every
modern comfort and convenience. Yost '
feet safe and at ease always.
In the first of a series of three era men
of basketball between the 10th and OA
grades of the city schools, the 9A grade
won- the nrst rant vesterdav b a
score of 20 to 7.