Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 21 February 1936 — Page 1

“It is a synthetic, manufactured, poisoned fear that is being spread subtly, expensively and cleverly by the same people who cried in those other days—‘Save us, save, else we perish’.” —President Roosevelt.

THE POST-DEMOCRAT

"There are determined groups that . . . steal the livery of great national constitutional ideals to serve discredited special interests.” —President Roosevelt,

VOLUME 17—NUMBER 4.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1936.

PRICE: FIVE CENTS

PROPOSE ANOTHER RURDEN ON TAXPAYERS

Re-Routing Four Highways adequate national defence Appropriation Asked

How’s Our National Insurance ? * fife aJk

Big Problems and Will Cost Muncie Taxpayers Plenty

Right-of-Way Privilege Must Be Paid for By City, Which Will Mean That the Bonded Indebtedness Will Be Greatly Increased.

The Madison street project, which proposes to re-route state highways 3, 32, 35 and 67 over the north and south bound street, the construction of a subway und,er the Big Four railroad crossing Madison street, and the removal of present Nickle Plate tracks from -the city highway, is the latest problem occupying the time of the board of public works and safety in the city hall. Last Thursday, the board announced its approval to condemnation proceedings against proerties along Madison street from Willard to Charles streets for the purpose of buying twenty-eight feet ,of right-of-way in order that the street might he widened between these points. The action taken was prompted by advice from the state highway commission that if the project was to be secured with federal and state funds it was necessary for the immediate acquisition of right-of-way privileges by the city. Last Monday, the board appointed Robert W. Maggs as its agent for obtaining property owners approval along the designated street. The city must pay for such right-of-way which would mean that the bonded indebtedness of the civil city would again be greatly increased Much Discussion.

No Takers For Hill Offer Solon Gambles $100 That Killing of Laws is Unconstitutional.

Land defense forces of the Unit- To train the civilian force, 120,000 ed States are only about 48 per j efficient reserve officers are need cent of the miniumum considered . , or , .. .. , , ... , . . v . I ed. while only 87,000 active re

essential by military and civilian r

authorities alike. Measures now perv e officers are now available pending before Congress will raise ' These receive 14 days field train the percentage to only 50 percent, i ing on the average, once in five Our navy, considering underage and j and one . half years . , t is C n mina i

serviceable craft, is only 60 percent of the limits authorized by the

There has been much discussion ever the valuation of properties snd leases held on such properties included in the proposed right-of-tvay to be purchased by the city. It has been reported that one holder of a lease which would expire within the next year was to receive $3,000 from the city and £hat another lessee was anticiparting approximately $8,000 for his release. It was also’ said that the property owners of the latter lessee was to. receive $4,000 as the purchase price foi 28 feet off of his real estate. It is believed that these reports are unlikely information and that the hopes of both property owners and lessees along the desired highway to get rich quick at the expense of Muncie taxpayers will not be realized. It is reliably reported that the estimated price to be offered for the property, stated to receive $4,000 for 28 feet froml the present possession, is $1,500 and that the now vacant lot next to it bears the offered purchase price by the city of $1,300. It is probable that holders of leases on the properties needed for the street widening will receive offers for their release of the same but not in any

amounts expected by them. It is conceded that the city has been and perhaps always will be a target for excessive demands on desired purchases of real estate as well as damage requests. The purchase of five dilapidated houses and lots along the south side and across the West Jackson street bridge by the city park board under the Hampton administration for $14,280’ is an example of how valuable property becomes ,when purchased by the city. It Goes Up. The property mentioned above was appraised for taxation at approximately a total of $2,300 but when sold to the city reached the excessive value uf nearly $15,000. The city paid $10,000 on account before retirement of the Hampton and the balance was paid two years later after court proceedings had granted a judgment against the city. The numerous damage suits filed against the city for any and all kinds of demands prove that citizens and lawyers alike grasp every opportunity to chisel the taxpayers. A great many property owners along Madison street do not approve the project (Continued on Page Four)

Does the Constitution give the Supreme Court the right to rfullify acts of Congress? Congressman Knute Hill, Progressive Democrat from the state of Washington, says “No” and offers $100 to any member of Congress who can find anything in the Consituation to sustain the court’s usurpations. “For 15 years I taught history, civics and political science in the public schools of the state of Washington,” Hill told the House. “At the beginning of each school year I made a standing offer of $5 to each and every student who could find in the Constitution the expressed power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. They read the Constitution diligently—which was a desired result —but never a one came to claim the $5. I now make the. same offer to each and every member of Congress, with the added incentive of increasing the amount to $100.” Mr. Hill pointed out that “no other important civilized country permits its courts to usurp legislative functions.” The last time anything of that 'kind' Was^attSm-fttferTIh Englarn!',’* said Mr. Hill, “Chief Justice Trevillion was beheaded for his impudence, and his colleagues exiled to France. Has England suffered because it has kept its court within bounds?”

THE SUPREME COURT Now that the supreme court has interpreted the constitution and decided on the constitutionality of the Tennessee Valley Authority, various authorities, most of them sitting behind typewriters in newspaper offices, are busy interpreting the interpretation of the supreme court. Some way it seems to us that the country is getting tired of sitting around waiting most of the time for the supreme court to decide whether or not the government can do this or do that. When the court decides that the President is wrong it is heralded by anti-New Dealers as a great Republican victory. When it makes an occasional ruling that the President is right, there are too many Democrats who are ready to cheer and call it a victory for “our side.” Super-governments are obnoxious to free-born citizens in republics that have the right to choose the administrators of their national business. The Post-Democrat has frequently said that under the ordinary construction placed by the average voter on the voting privilege, ballots are cast in the dark. The supreme court may blandly nullify those votes by vetoing the acts of an administration that was elected by a tremendous majority. If no limit is to be placed on what heavy weight thinkers assume to call the “authority of the courts,” then the rule of the people is at an end. If the three coordinate branches of government, the legislative, administrative and judicial are all to be blended into the latter, and all power granted to the supreme court, namely to legislate, judge and swiminister, a republican form of government has departed. The power of the President is conceded when it comes to the point of naming what judges shall preside on the supreme court and lesser courts of the federal bench, but the judges so appointed are endowed with a life tenure and may immediately tell the President where to get off, thereby assuming to have a greater power than the one who appointed them. It seems to the average person that there is something wrong with such a system. If it can be remedied by a constitutional amendment, defining in no uncertain terms just how far one branch of the government can go in vetoing other branches, then the, constitution should be amended. The arguments that have arisen will continue and can be settled in a rational "manner. In the meantime a wholesome disgust is manifest among those of all parties who wait for supreme court decisions, with the same expectancy that they await election returns, after a strenuous day at the polls.

Raskob Liberty Plea Rouses Woman’s Ire The “personnal” letter of John J. Raskob announced he had sent to 150,000 voters urging them to join the American Liberty League, which he explained "is doing everything possible to root out the vicous radical element that threatens the destruction of our government” backfired all around the Empire state building. Miss Evelyn Preston, 36, prominent Junior Leaguer, announced she received one of the Raskob letters addressed to her in care of the Madison Avenue branch of the Guaranty Trust Co., where she has an account. Walter C. Baker, bank manager, assured her the magnate could not have had access to the bank records. Miss Preston is a General Motors stockholder and it was suggested that Raskob, who like the du Fonts and other Liberty League associates, is a heavy G M stockholder, might have taken advantage of his position in that great corporation to obtain a mailing list. Raskob’s letter recited emotionally his rise by hard work to a point where he had a “competence” for his old age and urged the “same privilege be left open to the young. Miss Preston replied, Feb. 1: “Your letter received via Guaranty Trust Co. was a great comfort to me. You have no idea how I have been worrying about your old age. I am interested to know how you got my name in care of my bank. We know, of course, that no bank gives but lists of its depositors. Let me have a specific answer so as not to put the bank in a false position.” Raskob had not replied a week later.

A FRIGID BIG TEN

1. Frankfort (Muncie could not muzzle those nasty Hot Dogs). 2. Tipton (Huntington is Victim No. 20) 3. Froebel, Gary (They push Hammond and Wabash from the victory path). 4. North Vernon (A team which bears considerable watching). 5. Sullivan (They collect from Robinson, 111., and Clinton). 6. Bedford (The Stonecutters chip Central of Ft. Wayne). 7. Anderson (The Indians scalp the Trojans). S. Columbus (Rushville loses its tenth straight game when the Bulldogs nipped ’em). 9. Maxwell (This little school was the first to defeat Morristown). 10. Technical (The Green Wave floods Shelbyville).

Washington and London naval treaties, and can not be built to treaty limits before 1943. Our army, including the regular army, national guard and organized reserve is said to rank in 17th place among the nations of the world, and below those of Lithuania and Greece. We are the richest and most envied nation, and the least defended. Why should the Congress of the United States allow this condition of unpreparedness to continue. The principle of preventive medicine, that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, applies with equal force to the problem of National Defense. The National Defense act of 1920, drafted by civilians, and approved by Congress, provides for a land defense force consisting of a regular army, of about 17,606 officers and 280,000 enlisted men, a national guard of 410,000, and an organized reserve of sufficient civilian officers to train our draft armies when mobilized. We have at present in the regular army, only 12,000 officers and 147,000 enlisted men, and a national guard of only 195,000. These units, for their size, are as fine as any in •the world, but can we expect them to perform their functions in an emergency when they are only 51 percent and 47 per cent, respectively, of the needed strength? The war department • mobilization plan provides for four field armies during the initial stage of

war

negligence to send men to under untrained officers, yet can we expect reserve officers to be highly efficient with such an inadequate training program? Our reserve officers are civilians in all walks of life, who have volunteered to prepare themselves during peace, to help protect this nation in time of war. They attend troop schools, study correspondence courses, and buy their own uniforms, all without pay. Because of their patriotic and unselfish service in our behalf, we should hdnor their endeavor, and give heed to their suggestions on national defense. They advocate the gradual increase of our regular army and national guard to the standard fixed by the National Defense Act of 1920, “a legal limit army.” This would be achieved by an immediate increase in officer personnel, from <he present 12,000 to a minimum of 14,000; raise the enlisted personnel from the present 147,000 to a minimum of 165,000; increase the national guard 5,000 yearly from the oresent 195,000 to a minimum of 210,000; purchase 800 military airplanes annually of the best and most modern design; give 14 days field training to not less than 30,000 reserve officers annually train 50,000 youths annually for a period of one month in the citizens military training camps; maintain apd extend reserve officers training corps facilities to all schools and colleges desiring the same; continue our policy of a navy sec-

For Paying Insurance Premiums on Employees

Organizes Indiana ^Notwithstanding An Empty Treasury, and

national emergency. The regu- ond to none, with appropriations *lar army, immediately available, to carry out this policy, when recruited to war strength, j .National Defense week, sponsorwould make" Up only' fertile'tteseim; DfficersrSk&bcia-

the personnel. The national guard, available promptly on call, when recruited to full strength, would constitute one-third of the personnel. The other three-sixths of the total must be made up of officers and men drawn from civilian life.

tion of the United States, has for its slogan, “A Legal Limit Army and a Navy second to none, each with unexcelled Air Forces.” That slogan states our national defense needs. How long will we contnue

only 50 per cent insured?

Let’s Consider the Cost

While certain statesmen are doing their best to get this country into war with Japan, it might be well for the fathers and mothers of America to keep in mind one or two facts. First fact: Senators don’t go to war. They only do the talking and the voting that involves ns in war. Neither do these blood-thirtsy generals do any fighting in modern wars. Not an American general was killed in the World war. It was different in the Civil war, when 13 generals perished in one battle. In modern warfare the generals stay far behind the lines and sip tea, and perhaps an occasional cocktail, with charming ladies. Second fact: In a war with Japan, all the fighting would be done by American boys—youngsters between 18 and 25. To defeat Japan would be a big job; probably 500,-

000 of our boys would be killed, other thousands would be wounded, thirty, forty or perhaps fifty billions of dollars would be expended. And for what? In order that we may get our share of trade in China, the jingoes tell us. American prosperty is not dependent on trade with the Orient and never will be. A 10 per cent increase in the buying power of Amercian workers would create more new business in this country than the total of all our commerce with all the countries of the rest of the world. Our interests in China are not worth the sacrifice of one American boy, and the fathers and mothers of America should so notify the beligerent old gentlemen in Washington who are trying to talk us into another World war.—Labor.

People Won’t Tolerate Judicial Dictatorship, Says Empire Judge

The people of this country will never permit the Supreme Court to become sole dictator of government. When' they feel that such power is being assumed, the Constitution will be amended to put the tribunal back in its place. William Harman Black, a justice of the Supreme Court of the state of New York, sounds that warning in an article in the current issue of “Current Controversy” and adds : “I believe in a Supreme Court, but I do not believe in a Supreme Court with unlimited power. I do not believe that any single uneleeted sovereign should have the power to set aside the will of a majority of 130,000,000 people by the basic preponderance of his one vote in the Supreme Court. “A great popular majority is

more apt to know what it wants than one Supreme Court judge, sometimes a holdover appointed by a president whose policies have long been repudiated by a great majority. “Many countries share our respect for courts, but they do not share the respect some of our courts accord some of the decisions of courts that have gone before them. “Blind following of precedent must give ’way to justice, largely because the alleged precedents are so contradictory that nobody knows what they are. Some of our Judges waste a good deal of time trying to find out why some decisions of some courts strain at legal technicalities and swallow moral camels.”

——- entt0cra 1J Multiple Favors Granted Office Holders

and Families, Special Privileges To Favored Citizens, the Bunch Administration Seeks to Make Taxpayers Pay Individual Insurance Bills; Hearing On Ordinance to Be Held February 25th; Citizens Up in

ed in the Near Future.

Next Tuesday February 25, the state tax board will conduct a hearing: at 2 p. m. in the county auditors office on a special appropriation of $5,000 passed Iby the icity council, February 3, for the purpose of paying insurance premiums on city employees and their families. Terms of the ordinance authorized by the council would provide for a death benefit of $2,500 on each city payroller insured. The taxpayers of Muncie who provide jobs,for-city employees and who pay for .compensation insurance on such employees to the extent of more than $1,500 in annual premiums, are now asked to pay additional individual insurance bills for all members of the present citv ad-

ministration.

Compensation. |

The city has rightfuly carried compensation insurance on all city employees, except police and firemen. during the past several years. This insurance provides for the payment of salary income to any employee who loses working time because of disability through some Occident or injury incurred while Employed by the city, pays medijsal and hospital bills, and provides for a death benefit to the family ■^f any city employee to the extent of $5,000. Numerous compensation claims have been paid from this insurance during the past jive years and one faniily in Mun$ie is still receiving \a monthly check on a dehth benefit occurring

in 1930.

The police and firemen were exempted from the icompensation insurance benefits because they were protected by police and firemen pension funds. Both departments maintain pension funds which accumulate large sums from individual monthly assessments among members of the police and fire forces and a tax levy of 2 cents on each $100 of assessed valuation in the City of Muncie. Families of a deceased policeman or fireman become pensioned and receive such a pension until a widow becomes remarried or also meets death. The police pension fund today will show assets of approximately $65,000 while the firemen’s fund will possess nearly $80,000 in cash or investment securities.

ALVIN O. JOHNSON —_ When between 2,000 and 2,500 representatives of youngDemocratic clubs of Indiana gather in Indianapolis for the first annual convention of Young Democrats of Indiana February 28 and 29, the gathering will be a tribute to the organization ability of Alvin C. Johnson of

Seymour.

Mr. Johnson, who is state organizer of Young Democratic clubs of Indiana, has, with the cooperation of first voters and younger members of the party, organized more than 80 clubs in the state within the last year. Last August, Mr. Johnson led a delegation of 741 Hoosier Young Democrats to the National convention of youn DemAcrats of America, held in Milwaukee, and there presented the successful bid for the 1937 national convention to be held in -Indianapolis. Already the Young Democrats I of Indiana have organized and elected officers for the 12 congressional districts of the state. And, now, they are to have a great twoday convention with all the fireworks which usually attend enthusiastic political conventions. Sessions wil be held Tomlinson Hall and headquarters will be in the Claypool hotel. The principal address will be delivered by Frank Wickham, Souix Falls, S. D., who is president of the Young Democrats of America. The temporary chairman for the convention will be Jack Snyder of Charlestown W. Va„ who was permanent chairman of the Milwaukee meeting. A platform, official emblem and permanent state officers Avill be elected by the delegates to the State

convention.

When Mr. Johnson is not burning the midnight oil in advancement of the Young Democrats organization of Indiana, he is engaged with knotty legal problems regarding banking, corporation and insurance law for Indiana’s Attorney General, Philip Lutz, Jr., to whom he is an assistant? In the 1934 campaign, Mr. Johnson was in charge of Young Democrats work for the Democratic state central

committee.

Insuring Employes.

Although ample provision is and has been made for the protection of. city employees: and theix-fami-lies, the present administration seeks to add to its already overdrawn budget by paying insurance premiums which should be paid by the individual employees. Special privileges to promised voters have been made from the Two Percent club funds of the city hall aggregation such as house rents being paid as favors to some and loans being made to the colored editor who was arrested recently for selling unsecured stock in the Muncie Good News, but the appropriation of city money to pay private insurance bills would appear to be too much for any taxpayer to

digest.

The (Drain Continues. has not yet ceased although Mayor Bunch promised the tax adjustment board last fall that the extravagance of 1935 would be lessened this year. Present payroll claims for city police amount to more than $7,800 per month. The 1936 budget for police salaries amounts to $91,107.95 which, is $8,000 more than previous years. At the present rate of spending, the budget will be $4,000 short ot meeting this year’s payroll for the police department. The requested amount of funds for police salaries this year was $107,081.92 but the council and tax adjustment (Continued on Page Four)

NO ANSWER TO THIS “H’m,” the publisher murmured. “Your handwriting’s so indistinct I can hardly read these poems of yours. Why didn’t you type them before bringing them to me?” “Type ’em?” the would-be poet gasped. “D’you think I’d waste my time writing poetry if I could type?

LACK OF DIPLOMACY. “Why did the new women’s club break up so soon?” “The majority voted to have the three oldest women constitute the board.”

HIS PRECIOUS STEED Cavalry sergeant (to recruit marching too close behind charger)—How often have I told you not to walk too near his hoofs? One of these days you’ll get kicked on the head, and then 1 shall have a lame horse on my hands. o EVEN AS YOU AND I “You can cut some people by ignoring them.” “Wish I could cut the lawn that way.”

The average life of an airplane is about the same as that of an automobile; about seven years.

ROAD GUESSED WRONG; IS SEEKING TO RENEGE

New Haven, Conn., Feb. 27— If a railroad guesses wrong in settling a personal damage claim should it be permitted to renege on its contract? That question has been presented to the Federal court here by trustees of the New Haven, who are asking relief from a settlement which has cost the road $193,000. Twenty-two years ago Miss Jean Annett’s neck was broken in a train collision. Told by surgeons that the victim could live but a short time, the railroad contracted to pay her $10,000 and $700 a month during her life time. Miss Annett is still able to get about in a wheel chair with the‘aid of an attendant. She may live many years. That’s why the road would nullify the contract.

THE CASE OF OLD JOE Old Joe is partially affected by failing eyesight. He has earned himself a living by selling papers on the” street. One day recently wTiile crossing the street he was struck by an automobile and taken to the hospital for treatment. Joe remained in the hospital two weeks, automobile insurance paid his bill and. $100 in cash. Just where he is at this moment we are unable to say, but it’s a safe guess that he is looking after himself. " He is independent to the point of stubbornness and detests charity. Joe has not even applied for a blind pension, under the provision of the state law, and he is eligible. He would rather die and go to the poorhouse. We’ll' guess that his first mission, after leaving the hospital, was to deposit that hundred dollars in the bank. There’s one thing about Joe, and that his unfailing beliei' that banks are perfectly safe. When others became frightened, Joe never allowed himself to be stampeded. One day a few years back, when people with money in the bank were drawing it out, and a “run” seemed imminent, Joe made a loud complaint. That day the “moratorium” was declared and Joe, calling at the office of the Post-Democrat, said he found his bank closed and he had two dollars, his day’s receipts, that he wanted to deposit. “I want to put my money in the bank, where it will be safe,” he stormed. “Somebody might roll me for this two bucks,” he complained, “and here I can’t get in the bank.” The Post-Democrat today called the Merchants National bank, and in a conversation with Ben Shroyer, suggested that Joe’s case was one of great importance and that such a firm believer in the soundness of the bank deserved careful looking after. “You bet we will,” was Ben’s response. It was the voice of a man, with a man’s understanding behind it. Joe is an humble citizen, but his attitude of independence and his undying antipathy to anything that savors of charity, makes him. in our estimation a worthy and upstanding citizen who deserves honors and ease in his old age and infirm health. We suggest a “bank day” for Muncie in honor of Old Joe, and that every bank in Indiana get behind some sort of a movement to remember the Muncie citizen who was willing to put his last two dollars in the bank while others with plenty were scrambling to get theirs out and hide it in the ground.