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100 Years Ago | 16 April 1919

On this day a century ago, these were some of the news items The Statesman readers got to read about India and the world.

100 Years Ago | 16 April 1919

OCCASIONAL NOTE

The eighty folio pages of the report for 1917-18 of the Comptroller and Auditor General are not exhilarating reading, but the report has its redeeming features. Rumour has it that if, on one of the State lines of this country, the traffic were at any given moment held up for a simultaneous examination of the credentials of those travelling, at least twenty-five per cent of the occupants of the carriages would be found enjoying that luxury not at their own but at the Government’s expense. The ingenious Audit Office seems to have discovered one case which throws light on how results such as this are achieved – on a Company railway, be it noted. It was discovered that third class tickets issued at a certain station for another station were used twice over. The “staff” at the latter station sent them back to the former station for reissue. The original dating-machine stamp was carefully pressed out and on the re-issue of the tickets a new date was stamped on them. On being re-collected the tickets were destroyed. Apparently, however, some of the staff at the collecting station were honest – or envious – and the fraud was discovered. An assistant booking clerk at the original issuing station was sent to prison for three years but the evidence was not sufficiently precise to cover legally the fault at the other station. The Comptroller does not explain how the spoils were divided.

SEQUEL TO CALCUTTA RIOTING

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On Tuesday Balomant Roy and six other Bhatias, and a Marwari, who were arrested on Saturday last on a charge of rioting at the crossing of Harrison Road and Lowe Chitpore Road, were placed before Rai Bahadur P.C. Lahiri, Deputy Commissioner, Northern Town. Mr. S.C. Chatterjee, Barrister, who appeared for the accused, said that they were Satyagraha volunteers and that they were maintaining order and were not breaking the law. They were ordered to furnish bail pending further enquiries. Before Mr. Keays at Jorabagan Court, five Indian boys were charged with wrongfully restraining tramcar passengers, by preventing some from entering cars and compelling others to alight. Sergeant Mann said that the first accused was actually pulling persons out. The Magistrate fined the first accused one rupee and warned and discharged the other accused, remarking that the passengers should have boxed their cars.

SITUATION IN DELHI

When the Chief Commissioner resumed negotiations at the Town Hall this morning with the political leaders, huge crowds armed with lathis surrounded the gates and remained there in great excitement till the meeting was adjourned. The police and military had to be called out and the situation looked very critical. The crowd dispersed some time after the leaders had all left. At the meeting today Swami Shradhanand was present. On the leaders communicating their version of the situation to the Chief Commissioner the latter read to them the last communiqué issued by the Government of India. The leaders suggested that leading men of all trades should be invited to the meeting and persuaded to resume their business. It was further mentioned that efforts should be made to induce the butchers to slaughter goats during the day. The meeting was adjourned until 3 P.M. to carry out the wishes of the leaders. In the meantime Kakim Ajmal Khan used efforts to induce the butchers to resume work and his efforts proved successful.

SITUATION IMPROVING

BOMBAY, APR 15

The following communiqué has been issued by the Government of Bombay:- The condition of Ahmedabad city on the 14th was distinctly better and military regulations have now been considerably relaxed. Confidence is being restored, shops are opening and ordinary business is being gradually resumed. Information has been received that Viramgaum treasury was looted on Saturday. Military forces have been despatched to all points at which disturbances are likely to occur. No further disorders are reported.

MR GANDHI DEEPLY AFFECTED

BOMBAY, APR 15

Mr. Gandhi attended a meeting of cloth merchants of Bombay before his departure for Ahmedabad and is said to have made an earnest appeal to the people to abstain from any act of violence. He appeared to be deeply affected by the news of the disturbance in Gujrat. At Mr. Gandhi’s suggestion a committee of trading men has been appointed to raise a body of volunteers to assist in the preservation of order in the cloth market and the surrounding locality.

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