Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 5 September 1930 — Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1930

THE POST-DEMOCRAT

4 Democratic weekly newspaper representing the Democrate of Muucie, Delaware County and the 8th Congressional District. The

only Democratic Newspaper in Delaware County.

Entered as second class matter January 15, 1921, at the Posiofflct

it Muncle, Indiana, under the Act of March S, 1879.

PRICE 5 CENTS—-$2.00 A YEAR.

223 North Elm ^w/eet—Telephone 2540 CHARLES H. DALE, Publisher. Geo. R. Dale, Editor.

Muncie, Indiana, Friday, September 5, 1930

Democratic State Ticket

Judge Supreme Court, First District Walter E. Treanor, Bloomington Judge Supreme Court, Fourth District Curtis W. Roll, Kokomo Judge Appellate Court, First District Posey T. Kime, Evansville William H. Bridwell, Sullivan Judge Appellate Court, Second District Alphonse C. Wood, Angola Harvey J. Curtis, Gary Superintendent of Public Instruction George C. Cole, Lawrenceburg Secretary of State Frank Mayr Jr., South Bend Auditor of State Floyd E. Williamson, Indianapolis Treasurer of State William Storen, Scottsburg Clerk of Supreme and Appellate Courts Fred Pickett, Richmond

Democratic County Ticket Congressman Eighth Congressional District

Claude C. Ball

Prosecuting Attorney—Tod Whipple State Representative—Paul Bowden State Representative—Ithamer M. White Judge Delaware-Grant Superior Court J. Walter McClellan County Clerk—Arthur J. Beckner County Auditor—Samuel R. Snell County Treasurer—Thomas E. Weir County Recorder—Atlee Rinker Sheriff—Fred W. Puckett County Coroner—Dr. Clarence G. Rea County Surveyor—S. Horace Weber County Assessor—Edward W. Barrett County Commissioner, First District—Carl D. Moore *' County Commissioner, Third District Arthur M. Wingate County Councilman, First District—William A. Clark Center Township Trustee—Frank J. Lafferty Center Township Advisory Board—John D. Curtis Center Township Assessor—Leslie Brand

Center Township Justice of Tea re—-KrTtvarff K. Ffcmyer Center Township Justice of Peace—Ambrose D. Gray

Center Township Constable—John Cox Center Township Constable^—Borter L. Rees

2 Best Out of 3

While acting president of the council at the August 18 session, Robert Tumelson started the two best out of three plan of voting when the result failed to suit his fancy. At the recent council session Hubert L . Parkinson, council president, continued the innovation in parliamentary procedure in the consideration of the ordinance to repeal an ordinance which authorized the city attorney to employ

a stenographer.

Vote for the repeal ordinance was 6 to 4, but President Parkinson called it 7 for the repeal and 3 against it. When Mayor Dale objected to such counting after he and others in the council chamber heard four negative votes, the council president ordered a new roll call. On the next roll call Councilman Shroyer changed from no to aye and the result was a 7 to 3 vote on the repeal ordinance. This two best out of three style seems a favorite with the prevailing council group. Perhaps Shroyer voted wrong on the first ballot and perhaps he didn’t. If he voted wrong then it was his fault and it was no excuse for another ballot to permit Shroyer to get set on the way he desired to vote. It recalls the Tumelson complaint that the members were not voting as they had agreed to in caucus which was interpreted by Tumelson to be the excuse for a second roll call after reminding the offending members of the discrepency in the causus voting and the publicly cast ballot. We guess Shroyer had agreed in caucus to vote for repeal of the ordinance for the city attorney’s stenographer, but when he got out into the council chamber changed his mind, and then on cue from Parkinson unchanged his mind and his vote again to conform with the caucus arrangement of the prevailing group. Although Shroyer voted against the repeal and his negative vote was heard by those in the room he was re-, corded by the city clerk as voting in the affirmative, but the city clerk later changed his record to conform with what actually happened, and not permit it to remain as President Parkinson wanted it to be. Mayor Dale objected to such irregular counting and for several minutes exchanged heated dialogue with the council president on such recording.

Budget Apprehension. So apprehensive has the kollum kommenter of the afternoon daily became fearing that the ctiy budget spite cuts will not prevail we are afraid that he won’t be able to sleep well and soundly for another year. But he slept soundly and well while the Hampton administration was boosting the tax rate for the city and engaged in its final year in a criminal orgy of overappropriating and ACTUAL OVERDRAFT of WARRANTS and finally closed out John’s four years with a bare treasury for

the city.

We haven’t heard where Wulbur experienced so much

apprehension in years as he has in the past three weeks for dspite the announcement of the City Controller Holloway that it would be necessary to retain the present tax rate the kollum kommenter has been exceedingly insistant that

somebody told him the city rate 'would be cut. Too bad that Wulbur don’t ascertain from the proper

L__i

sources instead of picking up rumors and taking them to his heart and getting peeved because someone gave him a bum steer. Wulbur should know that when the Hampton administration as Republican as The Press went into office the tax rate for that year of'1926 was $2.58 and of this amount the general fund levy was 541/2 cent. Now the next year the rate was $2.42 but the general fund levy had been jumped up to 56i/ 2 cents. For 1928 the rate was $2.60 with the levy for the general fund climbing to what the stock market dopsters declare to be a new high of 71l/ 2 and in 1929 the Hampton tax rate was boosted to $2.68 with the general fund levy retained at 7114 cents. On the pretense of establishing working balances the Hampton administration sensing a possible defeat of the old Republican machine in the next year’s election the tax rate was jumped up to $2.94 and in strange contrast the general fund levy of which the greatest part of city expenditures are paid was cut down to 67% cents with no other purpose than to cripple the incoming administration. Instead, however, of maintaining the balances promised the Hampton administration took its $39,000 balance of January 1, 1929, added to it the funds derived during the year, overdrew $51,507.13 CASH in warrants that had to be paid by the Dale administraton in its first year and appropriated a total of $84,523.97 more than there were funds available for last year. They shot the whole works. We have yet to learn where Wulbur in his kollum of komment has kommented upon such a dastardly exploitation of the public funds that smacked much of the Chicago fiasco in public funds that drained that city dry of public funds not many months ago. He didn’t raise a hue against the climbing tax rate from $2.42 to $2.94 in the Hampton sojourn. But just because a Democrat happens to govern the city, Wulbur takes especial pains .to feel, oh, so bad that he had been bunchoed to believe that a small cut in the tax rate was forthcoming. We desire to speak appreciatively of Wulbur’s confidence in the Democrats to at least halt the orgy of extravagance that his own party administration failed to heed, but this year unfortunately we must pay the price of the Hampton extravagance and continue paying it for another one. It is lucky that the tax rate is not higher and it was only .because of the firmness of, the D)ale administration in economy and curtailing for several months projects planned for this year that the increase was not placed on the tax rate. Mayor Dale and Controller Holloway thoroughly and comprehensively considered the tax rate and if it had been possible they would have gladly recommended a reduction, but even to retain the present rate was possible only after economy and delaying some needed projects for several months. Yet with all this situation, Wulbur couldn’t get the right dope, he thought that the minute a Democrat got into office the tax rate, could be sliced. But we didn’t sead of his advocating the election of a Democratic administration so that public spending could be halted even if not reduced a little. Did you read any editorials or news stories in The Press along that line in the municipal campaign? No one ever did or ever will. Now the old Republican gang which was at the throats of the citizens for the past several years were a brazen | outfit and it is certainly a tribute to the intelligence Muncie citizens that the voters were smarter than the Cromer-Billy Williams-Lon Thornburg crew figured them for these' exploiters were decisively checked out before they did any more damage to the pocketbook. In retaliation for being dumped out by the voters the old Republican gang in control the final year of the Hampton administration chuckled with merry glee as they proceeded to mortgage the city for a couple of years so that the incoming administration would have plenty of hard sledding before paying off the mortgage which consisted of the $84,423.97 over appropriation plus the $39,000 working balance on hand the first of January last year. Hamptonites succeeded in raiding the treasury even if they had to overpay Mrs. Laura Heath double for some property and take it out of the city’s general fund instead of the park fund. They certainly went out of office with a clean slate and a cleaned treasury, but Wilbur never to this day has discovered the manipulations and criminal raiding of the city treasury so that the Dale administration would be hampered by an empty treasury and the overdraft and elimination of the working balance to the tune of nearly $125,000. It would take an increase of at least 20 cents in the tax rate to restore the city’s finances to where they should have been at the conclusion of the Hampton administration last December 31. A great part of this overdraft was absorbed this year and the next one will see it entirely wiped out, but not the memory of the Republican gang’s criminal raid on the finances of the city. Absorbing this hugh overdraft without a tax rate increase is most certainly a record that the Dale j administration can point with pride. Wulbur and the old gang Republicans t hat he failed to impress and they wouldn’t have paid any attention to him anyway, have been very silent about that exploitation. Wilbur must pay the same tax rate next year as he did this and it serves him right fo rhe sat silently and permitted the old gang Republicans to raid the treasury and never let out a squawk. If he had been as busy trying to tell the citizens of the manipulations of the Hampton administration and these hugh overdrafts and payments of funds when there were no funds to cover the warrants he might have helped halt this orgy and then the Democrats this year might have been able to trim Wulbur’s taxes, but instead he talked on a 1001 different subjects in his kollum of komment and got trimmed by his own political friends. - He ought to give himself a swift kick for being so thoroughly awe stricken by the Cromer-Billy Williams-Lon Thornburg crew that he failed to object to their raiding of the treasury or overdrafts. But he desires to forget the orgy of last year and turn his fertile mind to blaming the Democratic administration for it being necessary to retain the present tax rate. If Wulbur puts the blame for the situation where it belongs he will have a visit from George Cromer, Billy Williams, Lon Thornburg or one of this trio’s trusted lieutenants telling him to lay off or else, and this year’s red scare over at The Press has been opposite news columns instead of Russian propagandists. It’s been such a long time since Wulbur had an opportunity to put the razz on a Democratic administration here or in the state or nation that he is in clover now, but his four leafed tokens of luck are not the ones playing around

him.

Give the Democrats the merry devil, Wulbur, it may brighten your morning hours but there are thousands of Muncie citizens who are much wiser than you and the old Republican gang as was so fittingly demonstrated, last November.

Say Taint So! In the mourning missed yesterday appeared this brave and fearless headline on the county tax rate story, “COUNTY COUNCIL CUTS TAX RATE” and the second deck contained the brilliant finding “Levy For 1931 Will Remain At 27 Cents.” Here’s a tip for the citizens. When you go to get your tax duplicates next year inform Joe Meredith that you want him to figure your taxes on the rate instead of the levy. Of course Joe will look at you like you were one of the Marx Brothers, but don’t be fooled. Tell him that The Star headline reported the tax rate cut and if that is so then your t axes figured by the tax rate will be lower than the same taxes figured by the tax levy. All of which prompts us to offer a prize to the person who finds his taxes figured by the county tax rate to be lower than if figured by the county levy. - Either way you figure it the rates and levy are to* be just 27 cents, according to the action of the county council. If The Star found a way where the 27 cent county tax rate and the 27 cent county tax levy are different we would like to know it—we’ll take the lowest bid on the subject.

W.C.T.U. Urges Its Members To Pray For Dry Strength

Evanston, 111., Sept. 5.— The Women’s Christian Temperance Union has called upon its members to pray that the organiation “may be guided in meeting the attacks upon prohibition.” In the official call for the fiftysixth annual convention at Houston, November 14 to 19, the W. C. T. U. said: “The year has been eventful. Our opponents have been active, have been well supplied with funds and publicity has attended all their efforts. “The attempts to organize women in opposition to prohibition, and to work for its repeal are a challenge to American women who love their homes and recognize the liquor traffic as an enemy to the nation. ( “The W. C. T. U. was born of prayer. Every step toward prohibition was accompanied by prayer, and we hereby call upon each state to set aside one hour in the state convention for prayer that our organization may be guided in planning for the future and in meeting the attacks on prohibition.”

RARE VIOLIN SHOWN

Logansport, Inch (U• PJ ian violin, by Guarnerius at Cremona. Italy, in 1740, and valued at $100,000, was shown to friends and music lovers at Logansport by John Mashinot, Cincinnati antique collector. Mashinot, who uncovered the violin in Cincinnati three years ago, and the co-owners, the Fvair eluh. of Cincinnati plan to present the" 'inptfTimofit Tn - U.n Vatican museum at Rome, it said. o PICKPOCKETS AT FAIR.

Indianapolis, Sept. 5. (UP) Pickpockets at the fair grounds on Wednesday night obtained $229, po lice said. The heaviest loser was Isaac Rudasill, Moline, Mo., from whom a thief stole $105 and a watch valued at $100. o DELAY RESULTS IN SUIT

Huntington, Ind., Sept. 5.—(UP) —Delay in operating on Max Kreig was made the basis of a $10,000 damage filed against Dr. Claude S. Black, Warren physician, by Edward Kreig, father of the boy.

BUYS CHURCH EQUIPMENT

Terre Haute, Ind., Sept. 5.—(UP) The state of Indiana paid the debts of Clyde Holler, former West Terre Haute school superintendent and bought church equipment but didn’t know it, it was charged in court action here. Holler will be tried in Vigo Circuit October 27 on charges of signing false claims for public funds.

Two Injured Men Able to Drive Car

Princeton, Ind., Sept. 5.— (UP) — Two brothers, each injured to an extent that neither 00111(1 drive their car, combined their useful arms and legs in making an auto trip from Illinois enroute to their home in Central City, Ky. Thomas Holland said life had broken his arm in cranking the car. His brother, suffering from a foot injury, was forced to use crutches. Holland said he was able to crank the engine by first jacking up a rear wheel, using one hand all the while. While driving, the brother steered and operated the hand throttle and Thomas managed the foot controls.

TAXES AND TICKET MEN

By W. J. DANIELS EDITOR’S NOTE: When the discussion of the proposed spite cuts in the budget was being talked by some of the councilmen which would lop off $600 from the salary, of Bill Daniels, street commissioner, he prof§eded to write a poem about the affair. Ticket men, it must be explained, are the men who are permitted by the township trustee to draw $2.50 for working one day in a week. This ticket plan was arranged so that the needy men would not be classed as paupers, yet be permitted to earn their $2.50 allowance. These ticket men are sent to Bill Daniels and given work, so Bill’s poem explains these men and their*work. Some councilmen are wise guys, From their hearts great ideas pour; While their hearts are overflowing With their great love for the poor. How to keep their taxes lower, A greht problem has been; And at last some have decided, To do the work with Ticket Men There’s no use of spending money. To keep the city clean and neat; For these Ticket Men are willing, To just work for bread and meat And when your garbage pail’s i o’er flowing, There’s no use for you to spend Any money for its hauling, It can be done with Ticket Men.

REPORT FROST AT WARSAW.) Warsaw, Ind., Sept. 5.— (UP) — Furnace fires were kindled in Warsaw and overcoats appeared on streets yesterday, as the temperature dropped to 40 degrees. Frost formed in the lowlands.

— o

Chaney Bequeaths Fortune to Widow Los Angeles, Sept. 5.—JllE — Property valued at $55Ov{J0O was bequeathed to relatives an<f friends by Lon Chaney, screen character actor, according to terms of his will on file today for probate. The bulk of the property, which included $275,000 in life insurance, $150,000 in real estate and $125,000 in personal property, was left to his widow, Mrs. Hazel G. Chaney,

If some sneak thief comes a calling, , , At your home on some daik night; Don't take chances on his capture, For he might put up a fight. Just call up your Ticket Chieftain, And tell him to rush and send To your rescue in a hurry, His picked bunch of Ticket Men. If your home should catch on five, And you can not put it out, Just grab down the old receiver, And thru the transmitter shout; Hurry Chief, my home’s afire, And on you I now depend; And you’ll find it quickly smothered, By the Chief’s brave Ticket Men. For two bucks a week these Ticket Men, Will do all the Citys’ work; And you’ll find them true and faithful, And no duty will ?they shirk. Of course it might be possible, That some of them from hunger

die;

But you’ll have the satisfaction, Of knowing taxes are not high.

STATE TAXJ1ATE LIKELY TO STAND

Board Secretary Indicates 29-Cent Figure May Remain for 1931.

Indianapolis, Sept. 5—The 1930 state tax rate of 29 cents on each $100 of taxable property probably will be unchanged for 1931. The prediction was made yesterday by officials of the state board of tax commissioners, which next week will begin sessions to prepare recommendations to the state finance committee. The finance committee is comprised* of Governor Harry G. Leslie, t Mrs. Grace B. Reynolds, treasurer of the state, and A. N. Bobbitt, auditor of state, with the tax hoard members, who are James W. Showalter, chairman; Pliny H. Wolfard and Philip Zoercher. Lewis S. Bowman, secretary of the tax board, said that indications now are that the 29-cent rate will hold next year. Depends on Budgets The state rate, however, depends upon the budgets set by the Legislature for the various state departments and institutions. Budget requests from the heads of departments- and institutions will be filed within a few weeks with the state budget committee. While a number of state institutions are reported in need of appropriations for new buildings, repairs and new equipment, principally due to crowded conditions, state taxing officials hope to slice requests to a point where the old rate will provide sufficient funds. Requests from some institutions for funds to make repairs and provide needed equipment were sliced from the budget two years ago and some of these, it was said, would have to be allowed this year. o 1 New Record Made For Light Horses

wffb

A bequest of $1 was left the actor’s divorced wife, Cleva C. Bush. “I am under no obligation to her whatever,” Chaney’s will said, “But I am doing this so there may be no contest of my will.” • o REUNITED AFTER 50 YEARS.

We could even can the Mayor, And also the City Clerk; And let the hungry Ticket Men, -FM- all tlw; -city’s work No engineer is needed. No draftman with his pen; And we won’t need any money, To run the town with Ticket

Men.

Anderson, Ind., Sept. 5.— (UP) — A family reunion here, brought together Mrs. Walter Calott, Gary; Albert Makepeace, St. Paul, Minn., and Mrs. Mae Wolford, Anderson, brothers and sisters who had been separated for 30 years. o WOMAN IS DICE EXPERT

Richmond, Ind., Sept. 5.—(UP) —Richmond’s first woman dice expert, Mrs. Margaret Johnson, 17, was still $220 ahead after a conflict with two men and the law. She had been gambling with the men and had won $235 from them when arrested,' it was said. Her fine was $15. — o— Nine-tenths of all the cultivated land in Siam is given over to growing rice. v.

Some folks who read the lines above, May think this all a joke; But we hear a mighty rumbling, From those who wear the yoke; Of idleness and hunger. And therein much danger lurks; For they might kick out the Councilmen, And run the whole darn works. — o Frenchmen Ready For Return Trip Dallas, Tex., Sept. 5.— (UP)—• Capt. Dieudonne Coste and Maurice Bellonte had their trans-At-lantic plane fueled and ready to start to New York today long before they had arrived at Love field. Another plane was made ready to carry their manager, Rene Racover. Shortly before 11 a. m. the fliers themselves arrived at the field and planned to start east by way of Louisville before noon.

Indianapolis, Sept. 5.—A new state record for teams weighing 2,600 to 3,000 pounds was est’ablished in the pulling contest Wednesday. Two horses, weighing 2,895 pounds, driven by Delbert Swindell, Alexandria, pulled 2,950 pounds the full distance of 27 1-2

feet.

The home state record was 2,900 pounds and the world’s record in this event is 3,125 pounds.

LOCAL THEATER TO SHOW FILM TREAT

Ruth

Chatterton Coming Dramatic Play.

Here in

-t*;

COME

YOU BRUTE!”

sYe# York Wor/d

The management of the Rivoli Theater announces a rare treat for its patrons Sunday and Monday. Ruth Chatterton and Clive Prooks will appear in another fascinating talkie—one which is said to contain an even greater amount of dramatic and romantic punch than the two earlier successes of these capable favorites. The picture is “Anybody’s Woman.” It is the story of the \agrancies of a misfit marriage. Brook is seen as the prosperous young lawyer, who indulges in a prolonged orgy after his wife divorces him to marry another man. One morning, after a night of insensate drunkenness, he wakes to find that he has been married to Ruth Chatterton, an unrefined, tawdry, down-at-the-heels actress. His friends forsake him after he “straightens out,” and begins again his respectable pursuit of business. Ruth sees him losing his prestige and decides that she will leave him for the sake of his standing in society. She goes away, although she loves him more than anything else in the world. He carries on without her, but before long discovers that there is an emptiness in life that can only be filled by this woman. After a series of dramatic episodes they are brought together again for a finale that is pleasing to all. The very capable supporting cast include Paul Lukas, suave continental personality who scored successes in “The Wolf of Wall Street’ “Halway to Heaven,” “The Devi’s Holiday” and “Young Eagles”, Tom Patricola,, song and dance comedian of the Broadway musicals; Cecil Cunningham, international star of the musicomedy and variety stgaes; Huntly Gordon, featured in “The Marriage Playground,” and others. — o

SPECIAL

MIDNIGHT PRE VIEW AT RIVOLI

Manager William Exton of the * Rivoli Theater announced that he has secured a print of “The Dawn Patrol” an unusual screen feature of aerial warfare and love which will start a three-day engagement at the Rivoli next Tuesday. His ability to secure the print several days in advance permits a midnight pre view showing which will take place Saturday night at 11:30 p. m. So vast is the production of “Dawn Patrol” that he felt three days showing in Muncie would not be suffice to handle the patronage, therefor prompting the preview showing. Richard Barthelmess stars in this htrilling episode of action and is supported by an able cast of aviator stars and talking picture notables.