Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 25 December 1931 — Page 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1931.

THE POST-DEMOCRAT ! A Democratic weekly newspaper representing the Democrats of j Muncie, Delaware County and the 8th Congressional District. The only Democratic Newspaper in Delaware County.

Entered as second class matter January 15, 1921, at the Postoffice at Muncie, Indiana, under the Act of March 3, 1979. PRICE 5 CENTS—$2.00 A YEAR 223 North Elm Street—Telephone 2540 CHARLES H. DALE, Publisher Geo. R. Dale, Editor Muncie, Indiana, Friday, December 25, 11)31.

Bus Regulation (Indianapolis Star) Introduction in the house of a bill to regulate motor vehicles carrying passengers and good reflects the nationwide sentiment that stricter supervision of these common carriers is essential.- The measure’s author is Representative Bacon, a New York Republican. His plan would extend the jurisdiction of the interstate commerce commission now exercised over railroads to bus and truck lines. Its adoption Would tend to eliminate the frequent bus “wars” involving several states. Indiana has experienced difficulties in effecting reciprocal arrangements with other states covering the operation of motor vehicles. Drivers have been arrested because they failed to display license pmtes of the states through which they were passing. Af : ?r retaliation had been threatened and sometimes practiced, temporary agreements removed the difficulties. With Urn long hauls covering a number of states, Federal regulation offers the only satisfactory method of controlling these (J rriers, with justice both to the truck and the public. The individual states are confronted with the problem of regulating the truck lines competing with each other and with the steam and electric railways. Indiana has been lax heretofore, a number oi truck lines, admittedly operating without authority of the public service commission. Others hove violated rules governing the weight of truck loads, thus damaging the highways. Some relief from this evil is promised in the state enforcement program announced for the new year. Both Federal and state regulation will be needed for the protection of the public’s right and for a just division of t 'es between the railways and the motor vehicles which operate over the highways.

Government Shylocks (Newcastle Couner-Times) A farmer who has a loan in a joint-stock land bank handed us a card or notice this bank is sending to all borrowers. It says that no extension of any kind will be granted this year on the payment of installments, interest or taxes. Any one of th^m going delinquent for even a month wmild be cause for foreclosure. These banks are chartered hy the government and are "'similar, to the federal viand Ba&k. They afe entirely under t ccfelrol of congress and the government. A notice like this, printed in bold faced type, is not encouraging to farmers. It is very discouraging when they have to sell their produce at prices that will not bring enough money to pay interest and taxes and loan installments. But the federal farm board goes blandly on losing $250,000,000 on the board of trade and cotton exchange, piling up a big surplus of cotton and when that anybody knew would break the market. In the meantime tens of thousands of farmers are losing their farms to government chartered banks who demand their pound of flesh and demand it on time. If the government through its federal farm board would take one-half the money it has lost in speculation and buy up these delinquent coupons it might save the farms of tens of thousands of farmers and save the government its money too. The place to help the fanners is not on Wall street and LaSalle street. The federal farm board might have done Worse, but we can’t imagine how.

Five Cows On a Farm

Much has been said and written concerning the advisability of keeping a few good cows on every farm. General statements advising such a course are more or less effective, but a more definite illustration recently set forth by a coun" try banker is even more convincing. He declaring that if each farmer in his county had five good cows, and sold the milk and Cream Which they produced, the cash returns would do these things in a year: Pay the farmer’s state and county taxes. Pay his automobile license and buy two new tires. Provide a $40 kitchen cabinet, a $50 sewing machine and a $40 suite of furniture for the farm home, and School books for the children. Buy $50 worth of paint for the farm buildings. Besides this the fertilizer produced would increase the goil fertility of the farm, and the farmer would in addition have all his calves for sale or for keeping to augment his herd. * In most Communities any farmer who has a good reputation for honesty and industry can borrow the money, if necessary, with which to buy his five cows, because bankers are generally glad to encourage the introduction of more dairy cows into their territory.

Highway Funds (Newcastle Courie-Journal) The state highway department had a balance of $6,367,762 on hands at the close of the last fiscal year, which tends to confirm the belief that this department gets more money than it can spend ahd that the time is coming when more of the gasoline tax money will be sent to the counties to relieve local taxes. The balance is one of the largest in the history of t). : department. Failure to construct 200 miles of road because of a court decision is credited as the reason for the huge balance, but this would not account for all of it. At a top price of $20,000 a mile, the 200 miles would account for only $4,000,100 of the balance. The commission built 320 miles of road last year and plans to in-! crease this to arc und 400 miles. The proposed mileage hardly seems sufficient with the amount of money available. The figures show that $15,704,962.52 was spent for construction last year. There is every reason to believe that the same amount of money will be available during the next construction season, plus the balance of six millions, which would provide $21,000,000 for construction. This ought to pay for more than 400 miles of paving. ..Doubling this mileage would nearer satisfy the public.

Don’t forget that important little detail of a poll tax receipt before going shopping for the pretty green license plates, .

The Lenz-Culbertson contract tournament proves what was known long ago—that any old system can go hang if the players only draw sufficient pictures.

Christmas Lore Christmas being one of the most Widely celebrated of all holidays, it is only natural that many odd customs and superstitions should have been identified with its observance in various lands and at different times. The date December 25 approximates that of certain ancient festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia, the Scandinavian Yule, the winter festival of Hie heathen Britons, and later the Roman festival of the sungod Mitha. One of the oldest superstitions, once prevalent through out Europe, was that animals were endowed with the power of speech on Christmas. Another was that persons born on that day were destined to enjoy good luck throughout life. It was an old custom to wash and bleed horses the day after Christmas would govern his action for the following year. There was an ancient belief that each kind of evergreen used for decorative purposes was capable of conferring special blessings upon those who passed under the verdant boughs. To pass under holly betokened, good fortune, bay signified victory, while'laurel imparted beauty and poettical skill. The mythical Santa Claus has been known by many names, including those of Kriss Kringle, St. Nicholas, Knecht Rprecht, Robin Coodfellow and others. In Germany one known as Krampus, an ugly hunchbacked dwarf, was supposed to carry off naughty children. In Christian lands Christmas is celebrated in commemoration of the birth of Christ, and among the masses is supposed to mark the actual anniversary of that event. But scholars and educated people generally understood that December 25 is merely a date arbitrarily set for this observance, and that the actual day, or even the year, of Christ’s birth is not known with certainty.

The editor of the Post-Democrat has at last “arrived.” He is now a real mayor of Muncie, if reports are to be believed that astoot federal dicks are on his trail.

Regulating Trucks

(Rockville Republican)

Abuse of privileges has resulted in a law that will regulate the size and weight of trucks on the state highways, which goes into effect the first of the coming year. Enforcement of the law is placed jointly in the hands of state police and state highway employes, so that no additional expense will be incurred. Indiana has been the victim of lax laws in this regard for years. Heavy trucks have greatly da...ciged both paved and unpaved roads with their mammoth loads and endangered the lives of motorists because of the everincreasing size. Millions of dollars have been spent by the state highway commission in the last ten years in building roads and bridges much heavier than would have been necessary to accorntnodate ordinary loads and automobile traffic. Some good paved roads have been seriously damaged when the base was soft because of the heavy loads that were permitted. The law is late in coming, but strict enforcement will help in the future by curbing the rapacity of these road

hogs. * 1 v-

The Star says federal agents are established in Room 201, Y. M. C. A. and have interviewed over a hundred people seeking q liquor conspiracy. There must have been more. The mayor and police force have put more gamblers and bootleggers out of business than that!

What a happy new year it will be for the inmates of the county infirmary if Billy Williams shifts from the postoffice to the poor farm.

The only conspiracy that the people here know about is a conspiracy on the part of public officials of Muncie to smash the liquor ring that owned the town when the present mayor took office.

The Cincinnati youngster who swallowed a cartridge should be reasonably safe from a spanking. And right isn’t even might in the ring, unless the ring’s on a heavy-weight wife.

That line of old Polonius, “neither a borrower nor a lender be,” might suit Uncle Sam nicely in turning down foreign touches.

GIVE VALUE OF TESTIMONIALS

Manufacturers Must Indicate Amounts Paid Prominent People.

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$1,000 a Minute Reports of fabulous salaries paid to actors, singers and other entertainers must generally be taken with the proverbial grain of salt, but a recent publication which .seems authentic avers that Harry Lauder has received on several occasions $15,000 for a 15-minute broadcast, or $1 00 a minute. This is undoubtedly the highest amount ever paid for a personal performance. Will Rogers is said to have received $12,500 for a like period. Conceding the exceptional ability of these top-notchers, if they were really paid these sums, or anything approaching them, it was too much. The same is true of many of the salaries paid to other radio artists, movie stars and the like. These clever folks are good, all right, but they’re not that good.

The “Voice of the City” made a perfect score one day this week. “What Should Muncie have as a Christmas Gift,” was answer by four who want to clean up the river and the fifth wants a new mayor.

The Press suggests grateful appreciation to Mrs. Gentry for calling up the sheriff and informing him that the bank robbers Were visiting her happy home. For crying out loud!

The United States of America, long may she wave, is here looking for a liquor conspiracy, we are told. Possibly the President’s brother-in-law was here With his sack of booze. Or maybe the government has traced one of Mabel Willebrandt’s wine bricks to Muncie.

History May Be Made Here

Washfngton, Dec. 23.— (UP)—A famous actress and the wife of a popular British author received $1,000 each for endorsing a manicuring p a ion, the Federal Trade t >.amission disclosed Sunday in ordering a New York manufacturer to cease using paid testimonials “without disclosing the fact of such payment.” In its order against the Northam Warren corporation, manufacturers of “Cutex,” the commission showed Ethel Barrymore and Mrs. Michael Arlen received $1,000 in cash for their statements, and that Pavlowa, the late dancer, and Mrs. Howard Chandler Christy, wife of the artist, were paid $500 each. In addition, according to the .... .......r*>. .. . ......

Miss Barrymore to the company giving permission for the use of her photograph and “a statement to be submitted to me and whichwhen approved, I agree to sign.” The statement finally approved, read in part: “Everything must flatter us to our finger tips. . . and of all the ways of grooming the finger tips! T find New Cutex Liquid Polish the most flattering.” Similar procedure was followed

in the other testimonials, the commission said. The Northam Warren corporation announced the case would be appealed to the United States court of appeals. o Another interesting party game consists in trying to distinguish the fool drunks from the drunk fools. Now the market for caviar has gone haywire, and it may yet be necessary to plow under every third

GENTRY FARM APPEARS TO BE

commission, a Miss Lassie Honeyman, personal friend of Mrs.i Christy, received $150 for the lat-

ter’s testimonial.

The order quoted a letter from {

(Continued from Page One) It will be recalled no doubt how the police a year or so ago raided the Gentry farm and secured hundreds of gallos of liquor. The case was lodged in the federal court and on the perjured evidence of a man named Rose, Judge Baltzell turned Gentry loose. Later on the same evidence that would have been introduced in federal court if the district judge had permitted the trial to continue, Gentry was convicted, given six months on the penal farm and fined one hundred dollars.

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Special Midnitc Preview which runs wild with no speed limit of fun— Sat., Dec. 26th then Sunday & Monday Joe E. Brown who tried to make good in the worst Way—and succeeded. In a picture just too good to be missed— “LOCyVL BOY MAKES GOOD” It's a raving sensation better and funnier than anything you've ever seen or read about. SPEND NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH US— Balloon Descension! Favors, Fun, Whooppee! Rivoli

REAL CHRISTMAS DINNER TURKEY With AH the Trimmin’s Payne’s Cafe ifcigsrsfc, .

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Wishing You and Yours A Merry Christmas

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—AND-

| A Happy New Year

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Max Zeigler & Bros, f

6th and Liberty Sts.

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B&re is the Chicago Stadium where the Republican National Convention will be held on June 14, having been chosen by a vote of t-Hfc O. O. P. National Committee 86 to 14. The Stadium will seat 21,000 and is artificially cooled. Lower panel is an interior view of the huge ahditorium, giving a good idea of its enormous capacity. Although the building is practically new, by the end of 1932 it may have as-, auuied an historical significance; for the next President of th« United' > , States may be nominated there.

For (he 32nd Time We wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year R. M. Jones & Son

KEYS

RADIATORS

BICYCLES

326 f Main St.

’voluntarily REDUCED our REVENUE • eleven cents out of every dollar • from residential service

fN THE early part of this year, we filed a new residence service fate which gave a reduction to household users of electricity throughout the urban and rural territory, served by this Company. Under this rate energy for all purp<Mes is delivered through a single meter, making it more economical and satisfactory for a customer to satisfy his lighting requirements and at the same time, make use of the various types of appliances that save tabor and add to the convenience and comfort of the home. This rate is optional and not all of fcur customers have elected to take service under it, but already more

than half of them are henefitirtg by the reduced rate. Today, after eight months trial of the rate, we are in a position to estimate closely the amount of our voluntary rate reduction. On the basis of the month of September, which is an average consumption month, neither so high as December nor so low as July—the revenue from residential service was $9,000.00 less man it would have been under the old rates. September being an average month, it may properly be multiplied by 12 to arrive af the annual saving to our customer? of—$108,000 a year. O. M. DRISCHEL, | General Manager

INDIANA

GENERAL SERVICE

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COMPANY

^ || Over 400 Employees of this company spend J! a payroll of $513,972 in this section.