Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 4 October 1935 — Page 1

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“This "Administration came into power pledged to a very considerable legislative program. . . . Duty and necessity required us to move on a broad front for more than two years.” President Roosevelt.

(Sept, 6, 1935)

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“The period of exclusion is past. . . . Reciprocal treaties are in harmony with the spirit of the time; measures of retaliation are not.” President William McKinley, (At Buffalo, 1901).

VOLUME 16—NUMBER 37.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1935.

PRICE: FIVE CENTS

GOVERMENT REFUSES TO ENTRUST LOCAL CROWD WITH SEWER FUNDS

The C. of C. Idea of “Facts” Funny

Unfair Suggestions to Discredit President, That Federal Aid Was Purposely Withheld Discounted By Local Republican Newspapers — Press Says Government Should Not Be Blamed and Calamity Described By Star As Outcome of Acts of a Muncie Bunch of “Greedy Politicians.”

are some in Muncie who assume to be-

lieve that the refusal of the government to allot a huge sum for the construction of a sewer project here is an intentional slight to the city, and that it should net votes against President Roosevelt next

year.

Last year the government allocated over a million dollars to Muncie for that very purpose. It will be recalled that this newspaper repeatedly charged the council with conniving with others to deliberately sal )tage the President’s relief program in Muncie by refusing to accept the government proposal. Presumably the proponents of the theory that Muncie has been intentionally kept out of the money this year, imagine that the PWA officers in Washington and Indiana are a bunch of saps instead of a level-headed bunch of business men, who, like David Harum, refuse to be bitten twice by the same dog.

Republican Authority.

THE DRAGLINE

The Star and the Press, both Re- " chance when the PWA last y ear

publican newspapers, and theoretically at least, opposed to President Roosevelt, Wednesday in discussing the late rejection of the sewer loan, dissolved the idea that Muncie had not been given a fair deal by the government. Commenting, the Press says: “But too much blame should not be laid upon the federal government. A lot of it belongs to the city itself. It must be remembered that a year or so ago, the federal officers agreed to a grant of 30 per cent of the money required for this project and to lend the demaining 70 per cent at a low interest rate for a long period of years, but that the doughty city council, in opposition to the executive department then headed by Mayor George R. Dale, refused the national government’s offer. Undoubtedly if that offer had been accepted, the terms would have been altered so the government would have made an outright grant of 45' per cent and lent the remaining 55 per cent. “After the federal administration had been turned down on its liberal offer, perhaps it should not "be too severely blamed for doubting the city’s sincerety now, es_ pecially as the present estimate of cost is about $66,000 more than the first estimate, which later ostensibly was turned down partly because it was considered too high by about fifty per cent. “Maybe it serves the city right. But that does not help the thousands of citizens who have had nothing to do with balking the project, but have been sincerely favorable to it from the beginning.” The Muncie Star, under the editorial heading “Maybe It’s Another Lesson,” commenting on Richmond’s success in getting a large loan through co-operative work of city officials, says: “Of course, Richmond went ahead last year with a determination to build its sewer system and disposal plant with PWA funds, and the work will be completed by next spring. Muncie had the same

approved its loan petition, but the council rejected it and the city was a heavy loser at the hands of

greedy politicians ’

Verification.

The Post-Democrat can easily verify the thought of the Press that the government would have altered the terms that were agreed upon a year ago last spring if any change in the rules were later effected by the PWA. The editor of The Post-Demo_ crat, being mayor at that time, occupied a ring seat and saw every move of the game. When steps in the advancement of the project were necessary, and people in

The famous “dragline” bought early this spring to do some kind of digging in the river, at an expense to the city of about $14,000 broke down this week and the factory had to supply new parts. When the old dipper went haywire the story was revived that the machine, bought as new, was in reality a second hand, “reconditioned” affair. This cruel report is <■ promptly denied by the city administration, which points to the price paid, that of a new machine, and the contract, which called for new equipment. The Osgood company, of Marion, Ohio, which sold the machine telephones the Post-Democrat that the machine was new, and had never left the shop until it was shipped to Muncie. That makes it unanimous and we are glad that this matter has been cleared up. Muncie at one time bought a five-year-old broken down truck at a fancy price and a real scandal resulted. Thus, although the judgement of the purchasers of the fourteen thousand dollar gravel-dipper may be questioned, they must not be accused of buying junk. The machine simply broke down under the strain of digging up gravel on one side of the river and then hoisting it back again. That fourteen thousand would come in mighty handy to uppaid city employes and besides the commotion in our lovely river disturbs the pollywogs and wiggle tails.

Chamber of Commerce Circularizing City With “Facts,” Thinks Major Projects Are Advancing—Some Think They Are Ad-

vancing Backward Like a Crawfish Only Definite Accomplishment to Date

is Two Percent Club.

The wheel of progress towards development of major city projects has apparently slipped into reverse since the present administration has sat by and watched the possibilities of these community improvements cast aside in fayor of other Indiana cities. On page 5 of a small pamphlet labeled Facts, ^nd issued by the Muncie Chamber of Commerce (luring September, an article is headed ‘Tour Major City Projects Advanced,” which at this time appear to have been advanced in the scrap pile. Advancing Backward.

E.ABTHUR BALL IS COMIC BOSS WITHOUT ANY POLL AND BUT LITTLE PUSH

power were to be interviewed he didn’t send a boy to mill. He went

himself.

In one conference with the PWA board at Indianapolis, the day before the board sent its approval of the project to Washington, the mayor, in an excess of caution, brought up that very question and was assured that if the government decided later to increase the grants Muncie would be given the benefit of the change. Instead if gruff rebuffs and long waits we found both at Indianapolis and in Washington a wholesome desire to help Muncie and do it promptly and a rather deserved contempt for the “greedy politicians” who finally succeeding in killing the great improvement and kept hundreds of men out of work when they needed it. Government Pleased The former mayor was in Baltimore when the Muncie project was voted upon favorably in the offices of Secretary Ickes, three weeks before it was publicly announced, and an assistant of the secretary made a special trip to Baltimore to congratulate the mayor and the .city of Muncie on the favorable outcome of the negotiations. At one time later, while the “greedy politicians” were doing their stuff, a high government official asked the mayor who Lon Bracken was and what he had to (Continued on Page Pour)

The only major project that has advanced since the first of the year is the mayor’s 2 per cent club. The Chamber of Commerce knows this and it is certainly a lowly body to link itself as partners with the local city government in seeking the advancement of Muncie. Very Suspicious. Muncie has always been, more or less suspicious of the good intentions of the Chamber of Commerce, but if it intends to sink or swim with the city administration suspicion will be crystallized into certainty. What four major city proj(Continued on Page Four)

OLDEST UNION MAN IS CAPITAL VISITOR

Colonel James D. Handock, 101 years of age, a member of the Typographical Union since 1864, and still working at his trade, was a visitor in Washington last week. He claims to be the oldest union member in America.

During the Civil War, Handock had charge of a Northern battery of railroad artillery—60 flat cars, with six howitzers mounted on each Car. He was wounded three times at Gettysburg. Handock was on his way back to Seattle, where he is employed in a newspaper composing room.

A three-man federal court, sitting at South Bend, has decided that the 1935 Indiana act of the legislature lessening the burden of those who pay inordinate fees to financing companies is unconsti-

i tutional.

The law may be “unconstitutional” in the eyes of the federal judges but the statute was enacted in good faith for the very commendable purpose of lifting unnecessary loads from the backs of installment purchasers who do not have the ready Cash to- do their own fi-

nancing.

The law will be suspended of course until the state can get a final decision from the United States Supreme court.' The Post-Democrat adheres to its opinion that courts exceed their

state and na-

SHAKING MAZUMA TREE FAILS TO FILL BASKET FOB ELECTIVE 0ITICEBS

As Self Appointed Boss of WPA He Keeps Very Much in Background—Counterfeit Democrat Who Tried to Kill Swimming Pool Project to Be Put on Spot in FundSecuring Program of Sewer and Disposal Plant Enthusiasts.

powers in cancelling

tional laws.

High powered financial agencies may extract great comfort from such decisions but the common folks who are indirectly responsible for the appointment of the judges, will have to foot the bill. If Presidents, Governors, congress and legislatures are shdrn of their power to enact laws for the good of the people, we might just as well give up and leave it to the judges to decide what is good for

us.

Possibly the Post-Democrat is in contempt for offering this comment, but we still hold to the belief that the people should have Avhat they vote for. We have a right to make our own mistakes. If that is not true then why do we spend so much time and money on useless elec-

The silly talk that the sewer and disposal plant project will be revived by application for WPA money, now that the PWA has turned'thumbs down, is hardly worth listening to. Arthur Ball, who calls himself a Democrat, but who is not, is the district chairman in charge of the city administration and of distribution of WPA

funds.

When the ten WPA districts on Indiana, and their several district chairmen were announced, it was distinctly stated that all projects proposed in the ten districts should be referred to the district chair-

men.

The Responsibility. This puts the responsibility fairly on Arthur Ball and his abject followers here to go ahead and get the money for. the sewer and disposal plant if it is to be secured from the WPA. Ball is the recognized head of

the local relief agency and it requires, strange as it seems, that the matter shall be taken up with him. Tried to Kill the Pool As a matter of fact, he is not in any way sympathetic with the New (Continued on Page Pour)

MODERN SCHOOL YOUTH

tions?

First of October Came and Went and Mayor and Other Top Gents of City Fail to Get Their Checks—Commissioned Officers, Now Know How Privates Feel When Paymaster is On Vacation-City is Still Busted Flat.

Two weeks ago The Post-Democrat suggested

that the first of October was coming and that the ciy controller should carefully conserve the few dollars then remaining in what is humorously termed the general fund, or for the first time in years elective officials, heads of departments and others paid on a monthly basis might miss their own pay checks.

That very thing happened Tuesday, October 1.

A mayor, controller, city attorney, city engineer, city clerk, c ity judge, park superintendent, city health officer and many others who are paid the first of the

month, failed to get their checks Tuesday.

A Real Calamity

It takes about three thousand dollars a month to pay off the major generals, the chiefs of staff and their subordinates. When the

privates get a pat on the back instead of a pay check, it is mildly irritating to the commissioned officers to listen to the complaints.

But when the dinner bell fails to

When Dark Angel Coes Out Riding

The motor vehicle is no respecter

HAS STRONG DEFENDER IN FLOYD I. M’MURRAY

Says Boys and Girls of 'Today Are Just as Sensible, Clean and Ambitious as Those of By-Gone Days —is Proud of Indiana School Record.

ring in general headquarters, it is a calamity. There’s one thing about Controller Bob Parkinson that we have to admire and that is that he is utterly frank at times. Not long since in describing the absence of funds in the city treasury he declared for publication that he didn’t know where the city was to get money unless he shook It off a tree. Mayor Bunch was also frank, and evidently a believer in latter day miracles, for he cheerfully resigned from any responsibility that might attach to him and said he would wash his hands of the whole business and leave it all up to his controller and the finance committee of the council to get the dough. The Awful First

And here comes along the fifst of October and the finance wizards to whom the mayor had trustfully confided the fiscal affairs of the city, has fallen down on the job. The tree had been shaken so thoroughly that there was no money in the treasury to pay either the mayor or the four wizards. In an inerview with a local newspaper, the controller revealed an extraordinary secret. The reason, he stated, that elective officers |jotuld not be paid on October was that there was no money (Continued on Page Four)

of persons. Hardly a week passes without headlines telling of the sudden death of some statesman, industrial leader or other celebrity. A few recent names on the roster of those who died because of carelessly or recklessly driven motor vehicles, comes readily to mind. Not long ago, Colonel T. E. Shaw, the famed “Lawrence of Arabia,” was killed when he fell from his motorcycle, which he was driving at 80 miles an hour. Only a week or two ago the wife of the Secretary of Interior perished when the car in which she was riding at high speed skidded in loose gravel and overturned. Just before, the beautiful Queen Astrid of Belgium met her death—when her husband, driving the roadster in which she was riding, looked away from the highway at a road map, and ran headlong into a tree. These tragedies become known in a million households, because of the prominence of the victims. But they are no worse, no more tragic, than the thousands of similar deaths which occur annually and make, instead of headlines, a mere item on an inside page of the newspatfers. Recklessness, carelessness, incompetence—these are the scarlet trinity, which cause so much needless grief, so much unneccessary suffering, so great an economic waste. When one of them takes the wheel, death rides, too. The Park Angel does not always strike—but there is a limit to how long He can be withheld.

Modern youth at school and play in Indiana has a strong defender in the person of Floyd I. McMurray, state superintendent of public instruction. Recently embarrassed to hear a political speaker deriding modern youth and the Hoosier public school system, Superintendent McMurray arose to hurl a fiery challenge ^at any person who charges Indiana schools with the teaching of “Communism, atheism and lawlessness.”

“Modern youth is the counterpart of yesterday’s youth,” said Mr. McMurray, “The reckless lad of today who tears up an automobile on the highways more than likely is the son of a youth who in another day raced a good horse to death every summer. I challenge any person who says our boys and girls of today are not just as sensible, clean and ambitious as the boys and girls of bygone days. I defy any one to show where the public school system is not measuring up to its responsibilities in the teaching of good citizenship and Americanism. In the past three years we have made great strides in raising the standards of public education in Indiana, in lengthening the school terms and in the elimination of the obsolete, insanitary one room school house. W<e have had educational statesmanship given to us in Indiana by Governor Paul V. McNutt.” Superintendent McMurray is proud of the record which shows that Indiana was one of three

FLOYD I. McMURRAY State Superintendent of Public Instruction

states to give equal financial support to all schools and teachers through the depressions, keeping all school doors open and improving standards, even though econbmies amounting to more than $15,000,000 savings in costs to taxpayers were put into effect at the same time. Mr. McMurray’s home is in Thorntown. He has travelled extensively in foreign countries.

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