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MISSOURI News Nuggets
LATE STATE EVENTS CONDENSED FOR THE BUSY READER
The State Board of Equalization at Jefferson City, in its report just completed, has increased the valuation of farm lands in the state $17,033,422 over the valuations of the State Tax Commission, making increases in 10 counties and decreases in three. In only one county was a change made in personal property valuations. In Vernon County the state board made an increase on notes and bonds of 70 per cent over the Tax Commission figures, or an increase of $558,103. This, added to the net increase on farm lands, makes a total of $17,591,525. Taken together with the valuation on town lots, the total property valuation will be about the same as a year ago. Farm property is slightly decreased in value over last year, while town property showed an increase. The increases by counties are as follows: Atchison, $1,499,462; Bates, $2,099,673; Cass, $892,911; Jackson, $4,467,459; Jasper, $1,334,350; Johnson, $2,317,279; Monroe, $1,515,902; Nodaway, $2,386,062; Saline, $1,810,316; Vernon, $417,539. Valuations in three counties were decreased as follows: Mississippi, $739,939; Pike, $930,382; Stone, $165,020.
Police believe a check-forging career dating back to 1914 and extending from coast to coast, has been ended by the arrest of a 70-year-old man at Joplin. The prisoner says the police are wrong. He denies he is the man wanted. He was arrested because he bore a striking resemblance to a photograph of the forger. St. Louis is interested in the case because the forger was there recently. Introducing himself as "Mr. Seeder of Seeder and Woods," he purchased lumber from four concerns, paying by "certified" check, and collecting balances ranging from $20 to $35. The checks later were returned to the lumber firms by the New York bank on which they were drawn, being marked "no such account." The Burns Detective Agency, representing the American Bankers' Association, obtained a photograph of a forger who had operated along similar lines in other cities and it was identified by the lumber people of St. Louis as that of the man who had swindled them.
Attorney General Barrett has stated at Jefferson City that he would not announce for two weeks a ruling in regard to the changes made in the housing trust law by the legislature. He said: "I have the request of the Commissioner of Finance for an opinion as to the legal effect of House Bill No. 299, which repeals the statute under which the so-called 'housing trusts' have been operating. I do not think the legal questions involved are at all complicated, but the future action of the Commissioner of Finance in this regard is of considerable importance because of the millions of dollars invested in these organizations by the people of Missouri, and since there will be ample time to thoroughly consider the situation (the new act not taking effect for three months), I think it would be only fair for me to reserve decision for at least two weeks, thereby giving opportunity for the submission of briefs by all interested parties who desire to present legal arguments."
The first information that the Marketing Bureau radiophone station at the Capitol building, Jefferson City, had been heard in Hawaii and Alaska, came when messages were received saying the concert broadcast by the St. Joseph Rotary Club delegates recently was heard in Honolulu and Nome. In checking over the returns on the concert the Marketing Bureau announced the concert had been heard in every state in the Union, Garrocheles, Porto Rico, Mexico City, Santiago, Santa Domingo and a number of ships at sea.
Two requisitions were granted at Jefferson City by Governor Hyde, both at the request of the Governor of Kansas. B. W. Fahrner, who is wanted in Wichita on the charge of embezzling $1,500 from an insurance company, is under arrest in St. Louis. W. H. Gale, who is wanted for child desertion in Nemeha County, is under arrest in Kansas City. A requisition was asked from the Governor of Iowa for William Koehly, wanted in Livingston County on a statutory charge, who is under arrest in Elkader, Iowa.
The United Railways Company of St. Louis, through its receiver, Rolla Wells, filed a reply before the Public Service Commission at Jefferson City to the application of the citizens of Clayton for lower fares. The receiver contends that the present rates to Clayton over its two lines are nonremunerative and a reduction would result in heavy losses. The commission is asked to make a careful investigation before disturbing the present rates, which, the reply states, were in force long ago.
B. F. Blanton of Paris, one of Missouri's pioneer newspaper men and for nearly half a century editor of the Monroe County Appeal, died at his home in Paris. Blanton was probably the last survivor of the Missouri-Kansas border war of 1856. He was a Civil War veteran, a Mason, Odd Fellow and member of the Baptist Church. Five sons and three daughters survive him.
Capt. Howard C. Bradbury, of the adjutant general's office, left Jefferson City for Clinton, to organize an artillery company of the 128th Field Artillery.
Governor Hyde at Jefferson City has designated the week of April 1 as Arbor Week, in the following proclamation: "Whereas, the last decade has witnessed a diminution of our forests and our orchards to a degree which has become cause for grave public concern, and, Whereas, the preservation of our forests and orchards is vitally necessary to our national commerce, as well as to our health and comfort as a people, and, Whereas, forest trees, fruit trees, shrubs, flowers and vines serve our people not only in a practical sense, but as well in an esthetic sense in adding beauty to the landscape, and natural background to the home, and, Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of Missouri long since enacted a statute providing for the annual observance of Arbor Day, and recently, by resolution, reaffirmed the policy of encouraging the planting of fruit, shade and forest trees and of shrubs and vines, now, therefore, I, Arthur M. Hyde, Governor of the State of Missouri, do hereby set apart the week beginning Sunday, April 1, 1923, for the special observance of Arbor Day, as fixed by the statutes of the State of Missouri, and the day, Friday, April 6, 1923, Arbor Day, hereby urging every citizen of the State of Missouri, and particularly every teacher, school boy and girl, in co-operation with the Missouri State Horticultural Society and other civic organizations and movements, on that week to plant fruit, shade and forest trees, as well as shrubs, vines and flowers."
It was learned at Kirksville from sources believed to be authentic that the assignment to Dr. H. M. Still of $500,000 life insurance of Lonnie F. Gibbs to protect depositors of the Kirksville Trust Co., was made to cover a shortage in Gibbs' accounts of approximately $460,000. Gibbs was cashier of the trust company and killed himself in the bank's vault on March 18. Dr. Still is president of the Citizens' National Bank. Gibbs carried $600,000 of life insurance in a series of policies, the first of which was issued about seven years ago. The bulk of it was written in the last three years and some of it within the last year. At the time of his death he had an application pending for an additional $50,000. The assignment of the $500,000 was made by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Gibbs, named as the beneficiaries in the policies. The suicide's widow is provided for by an annuity from an unassigned policy. There is talk that the assignment may be opposed in the form in which it was made, for the reason that it provides only for protection of depositors. It is said that the bank examiners, now in charge of the institution, may insist that the assignment be made to read for the protection of the creditors also.
Y. M. C. A. and all fraternal buildings are required to pay taxes, according to an opinion written at Jefferson City by Merrill E. Otis, First Assistant Attorney General, and approved by Attorney General Jesse W. Barrett. It is held that Y. M. C. A. buildings, parts of which are rented for dormitories, should be assessed for taxation. The same ruling applies to all fraternal orders, where any part of such property is rented or where the order uses it for other than lodge purposes, i. e., social recreation and entertainment of its members. The opinion also holds that even when the property of a fraternal order is used strictly for lodge purposes it should be assessed for taxation until it has been established in a proper court proceeding that it is "used exclusively for purposes purely charitable" within the meaning of the constitutional provision permitting exemption from taxation.
A large number of letters are being received at state offices at Jefferson City, notably by the Attorney General's office, making inquiries as to when bills that passed the Legislature, with emergency clauses attached, will become operative. Not a single measure passed by the Legislature, save the general appropriation bills, will become operative prior to ninety days following the adjournment of the General Assembly, March 26.
The trial at Warsaw of Chambers Buckley and Earl Buckley, held for the murder of A. E. Lutman, in May, 1922, was continued until the July term of the circuit court because of the absence of Claude Estes, alleged to have confessed that he was hired by the Buckleys to commit the murder. Estes escaped from the Pettis County Jail, where he was held without bail. The Buckleys were placed in the Henry County jail.
William Ferguson, Sr., 62 years old, died suddenly from heart disease on a Missouri Pacific passenger train near Independence. Mr. Ferguson was on his way to his home in Rich Hill from Kansas City. He was born at Fayette, Mo., June 17, 1860, and came to Rich Hill in 1882 with E. F. Swinney, now president of the First National Bank of Kansas City, and established the Farmers' and Manufacturers' Bank of Rich Hill.
Permission was granted by the Public Service Commission in Jefferson City enabling the Mount Vernon Telephone Company, Mount Vernon, to sell the Sarcoxie telephone exchange of the company to R. M. Snow of Kansas City.
Reduced passenger fares have been authorized from all points in Missouri to Jefferson City for the meeting of the Missouri Association, April 6 and 7, it was announced at Kansas City. The tickets will be on sale April 3 to 7, inclusive, with final return limit of April 11.
Bishop W. F. Murray of St. Louis has transferred Rev. Roy P. Basler from the St. Louis Conference to the Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Moberly, to fill the vacancy made by Rev. W. R. Halberstadt.
