Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 32, Number 2, Decatur, Adams County, 2 January 1934 — Page 1

'll WEATHER Cloudy, probably asional rain or ow tonight and ednetday; alightly "fner tonight. • KttflßKs -

DEPOSIT INSURANCE PLAN IN EFFECT

Oeath Toll In Los Anaeles Mounts To Forty

INY OTHERS SEPORTED ON ; MISSING LIST ropolitan Los Angeles iffers Worst Storm In Its History HAGE IS PLACED _AT FIVE MILLIONS ■*>s Angeles, Jan. 2 'U.PJating its dead at two t*. with half as many ing and pcssiblv drown- / nid an estimated nronern" damage of s.’>.<M*(»,(loll I ropolitan Los Angeles iobegan to clear awav de- « of the worst storm in >5 I history'. deluge of rain swept the footand coastal plain New Year’s , and dry arroyos were turned raging watercourses hut ed tons of rock and silt from dlls to batter at homes in the f- BE 1 •eels flowed as rivers, yellow earth. In them hundreds of mobiles were marooned. Men. en and children fled for their as more than 3.000 homes > ’flooded. Landslide 0 buried I ways. Rail traffic was dis- , sd. .raa on the wings of a storm 'he i"orth. the rain cascaded lily on Los Angeles and surdlng cities for 30 hours, •pn the new year dawned, suland wet, the whole area was uorama of destruction. ’ll Lea Angeles 8.27 inches of fell. In the foothill area the iage was more "han 10 Inches, dors, east of Pasadena at tin of the Sierra Madre mounI, recorded 15.40 inches. Olenhad 13.45 and Pasadena had ZZi. li little over 24 hours, the Sage annual rainfall was died Pasadena the raditional Year's Tournament of Roses de was held as scheduled, and mbia and Stanford battled in of mud for the east-west ball championship while spec•nrs huddled Minder umbrellas ft raincoats. !tl schools in Los Angeles w -re ed today to allow a cheek of m damage to buildings some ady weakened by the earthen of last March 10. The baset of the Los Angeles ' .unity >ltal was flooded, liver City, Venice and Southtern Los Angeles were u der ?r. More than 20 bridges ,» destroyed. Some streets Ie under four feet of mud and ;s. Others were filled with h from curb to curb, he Montrose-La Crescent i area the storm’s full fury. It was •ea large proportion of the h toll was counted At least were killed there when a 50check dam in Pickens Ca <- ■ . designed to divot i f'oo-l ers, failed. wall of water roared down a the Montrose im.-rican ion hall, sweeping the building 1 its foundations a nl sending lders and debris through a ten wall of the structure. The er. mud and rocks also swept * y i service station and moved tes from their founds ions. Inder a brighter skv which rred in the second day of the vvTivT'pp nv nier rnrmi ral And Citv Schools Reopen he rural schools and (hose in te, Monroe, Geneva and Decatur med classes today, after being ed for the Christmas holidays. % new teacher in the fourth grade I he St. Joseph Catholic school ; 'med her dut'es this morning, ihool authorities reporteil good ndance on the opening day and is were being made for the ling of thflfiwJond semester this ith. .• . O rne Town Council Monday erne, Jan. 3 —(Special) — The n council met here last night it organized. Chris Ralslger was -lected president of the board David Depp, new clePk-treas-r was named secretary.

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DECATUR DALLY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXXII. No. Two.

Hank Stockholders Hold Annual Meeting The 51st annual meeting of the stockholders of the First State Hank was in progress today. The election of a hoard of seven directors will take place. The polls were open from nine o’clock this morning until 3:30 o’clock tills afternoon. No clialfges in the hoard are anticipated. Following , the election the directors will meet at the hank and name officers. C. A. Dugan, president of the hank, stated that during the past year the deposits exceeded the million dollar murk. INDIANA DEATH TOLL ONLY FOUR Icy Streets Throughout State Cause Many Accidents; Four Dead Icy streets which made driving hazardous resulted in four deaths and many injuries in Indiana over the holiday week-end. Miss Barbara Birdsell. 19. South Bend, was killed and her escort and a truck driver were injured in aj. collision near the Indiana-Mlchigan state line. John Pollock. 22, and Kenneth Beigh. driver of the truck, were taken to a hospital at Nile 3. Michigan in a serious condition. At Terre Haute Frank Baird. 28. Anderson was killeiovhen his truck rashel into»a safety zone po3t. Miss Marie Morgan, 40, was killed in an auto collision at a street intersection in Anderson. Injuries suffered by Hugh Cassidy. 48, Jasper, when the automobile in which be was riding crashed iuto a high bank caused his death in a Princeton hospital. George Woane. Jasper, riding with Cassidy, was injured. Four young persons were hurt at Etna Green when the automobile in which they were returning from church services struck a Pennsylvania freight train. Mayor Jack Edwards of Marion narrowly es aped drowning when his car skidded in avoiding collission with a truck and plunged into a gravel pit west of Summitvllle. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Harris. Kokomo, were treated for cuts and bi uises at City Hospital in Indianapolis after the automobile in which they were ridiug collided with another. Harry Mills, 45. Noblesville. was ■ in Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, with a broken leg and possible skull fracture inflicted when he was knocked down by a hit-and-run motorist. Robert Allen. 22, Greencastle, was reported recovering in city hospital, Indianapolis, from injuries suffered when the automobile in ; which he was riding collided with another. o — , mi is IN FULL CHARGE , i Assumes Full Cabinet Rank And Control of Treasury Department Washington, Jan. 2—(U.R) — Menrv Morgepi’hau. Jr., practicing farmer and lone-Cme associate of President Roosevelt, todav assumed full cabinet rank and control of the treasury to effect* the administration's monetary and fiscal policies. The new secretary is 42 years old. The Preside-i* summoned Morgenthau to The White House New War's morning to appoint him j cooretary of tre«««rv. cvob-tti T 4 Wond'ii, resigned. He tnn\r the oath of office in the of rhe Roosevelt and iroi-eenthon families and a few clo=e associates. Moreenthsu had been acting as undersecretary of the treasury since November 2 when he was drafted from the farm credit ad- , ministration temporarily to fill the vacancy caused by Woodln’s departure on sick leave. Woodin as early as last August asked to be relieved of his duties , but it was not until yesterday that President Roosevelt accepted j '(CONTINUED con page twoi 1

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

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ELWOOD STORE IS DESTROYED BY FIRE TODAY Huge Department Store Destroyed; Adjoining Buildings Damaged ESTIMATE LOSS AT $500,000 Elwood, Ir.d., Jan. 2. — (U.R) — A three-story department store occupying a quarter of a block ill the Elwood business section was destroyed by fire today at a loss of at least $500,000. Fire departments from Elwood. Tipton and Alexandria brought the blaze under control shortly before 11 a. m. Several adjoining buildings, including the Citizens Bank, caught fire and windows In other nearby establishments were broken by the ntense heat. The department store was owned and operated by the R. L. Lee<on Company. Walls of the building were pulled down by firemen after the Interior had been consumed. Fire started near an elevator. It was not discovered until pedestrians noticed smoke coming from he building. The night watchman. William Reynolds, had left the building shortly before the ames broke out. Adjoining buildings most seriously damaged were the Citizens Bank and the Masonic hall. The bank was badly burned. The flames also spread to a grocery store, hotel and drug store in the same (CONTINUED ON PAGR THREBI DEATH TOLL ON NEW YEARS LOW New Year Celebration Sanest And Safest In Many Years Chicago, Jan. 2. — (U.R) —Millions of Americans returned to work-a-day tasks today after the sanest and safest New Year’s day celebrations in many years. A United Press survey revealed only 42 deaths resulting from the holiday celebration. This compar ed with 150 a year ago and 200 two years ago. For the first time in 14 years poison liquor played an inconsequential part in New Year’s day fatalities. Deaths resulting from shootings led by a wide margin Automobile accidents resulting j from drunken driving were far fewer than usual. The first post-prohibition celebration was r.oisy, but most harmless. More than half the popula tion had liquor available legally. Hotels, night clubs and taverns were crowded. In most places all reservations were taken days in advance. The merry-makers spent freely. Proprietors of places where they gathered reported receipts increased 50 to 200 per cent over any year since 1919. Prohibition agents were absent icnvTTVT'P.n nv pic.p ptvusi o Spanish War Vets To Meet Thursday The regular monthly meeting of the United Spanish War Veterans will be held in the 'American Legion hall in this city Thursday night at 7:30 o'clock. Business of Importance will be transacted. The election of officers for the ensuing year will be held and an oyster supper and refreshments will be served. A good attendance is desired. — o— T 1 Gl-.l T.l Lcucai Din lanes Nurses Training Miss Lucille Rigsby of this city, graduate of the Decatur high school and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Rigsby of Clinton, will enter nurses training at the St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, Thursday, January 9. Miss Rigsby was graduated from , the public high school here with I the class of 1932.

' Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, January 2, 1931.

Hold Educational Meetings Saturday Due to the small number who abended the meetings in the Berne and Decatur high school buildings last Saturday to discuss the proposed plans of the emergency educatin' ul division, similar meetings will he held January <>. The six southern townships j will meet at Berne Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock and the six northern townships will meet a’ the Decatur high school at the same time. Persons who wish to take advantage of the proposed organization of adult education classes under the national government’s EED are asked to attend the meetings. If the plan is not supported the opportunity will he transferred to a 'other county. NO EXTENSION FOR MOTORISTS No Extension Is Likely; Arrests Withheld For Few Days Indianapolis, Jan. 2. — (U.FI) —Despite insistence of Frank Finney, state auto license bureau director, that there would be no extension of the deadline for 1923 plates after Jan. 1, motorists in many sections of the state were able to drive today without fear of prosecution. Inability of license bureau branches to fill all applications for plates during the rush of closing hours Saturday led A1 G. Feeney, state director of public safety, to order state police to refrain from arresting users of old plates until tomorrow. , Local authorities in many instances followed the lead of the state police chief. In some cities even more leniency was granted. Police Chief Joseph Cerney of Anderson, notified motorists there they have until Jan. 8 to purchase 1934 plates and drivers’ licenses. At Richmond, arrests were started immediately after the new year began and 50 persons had been halted before local officials were advised of the lenient attitude being taken by state authorities. Some license bureau branches were kept open yesterday and reported a steady flow of business. Another last-minute rush was expected today at the license bureau headquarters in the Statehouse. Both auto plates and drivers’ 111 censes for 1933 expired at midnight i Dec. 31. according to state law. MIKE SNAKEUP IN AAA GROUP All Peek Appointees Are Removed In Major Reorganization Washington, Jan. 2. — (U.R; — A major reorganization removed from the agricultural adjustment administration today every man who had been appointed by ex-Ad-minlstrator George N. Peek, Illinois plow manufacturer. Eight sections of the administration were eliminated altogether, while into the places of the other Peek appointees went men known to sympathize with the new deal for agriculture, as typified by the theories of Henry Agard Wallace, secretary of agriculture, and Rexford Guy Tugwell, his assistant. The jovial Peek, conservative by nature and by training, recently was removed as AAA administrator by President Roosevelt and assigned to study foreign trade with the idea of coordinating all the federal agencies pertaining to it. Peek disciples to go included: Smith W. Brookhart, AAA foreign trade expert, who spent considerable time giving optimistic frierviews about soviet trade possibll'ties. The former senator from lowa is expected to join Peek in his foreign trade studies. Gen. William I. Westervelt, army | j * ♦*♦♦♦-• *♦♦♦♦* • • CONTINUED TO PAGE FIVE?

STRIKER NAMED TO HEAD BOARD Dennis Striker Is Reelected President of County Commissioners The county commissioners met this morning, organized t o board by re-electing Dennis Striker, president. made several appointments , and then went to the county infirmary to take the annual inventory. Mr. Striker served as president of the board last year. Frank Martin, commissioner from the second district began his new i term today. Appointments ma le by the commiesioners follow: , Harvey L. Fountaine. reappointed superintendent of the Adams County Infirmary. Mr. La Fountaine has been superintendent of the county farm since 1921. IA. J. Smith was renamed a trustee of the Adams County Memorial hospital. Mr. Smith lias been a trustee of the institution ever since the hoard was organized in 1921 Dr. J. W. Vizard of Pleasant Mills was renamed county health commissioner. Dr. J. M. Miller of this city was renamed county physician Assisting the county commissioners in taking the inventory were Ed Affolder of Wabash township and C. W. Heffner, Jefferson township, who were named appraisers by the board. All of the appointments are effective January 1, 1934. At a meeting last week the commissioners reappointed County Surveyor Ralph Roop as county roa l supervisor. The appointments made today take in nearly all the officers to be named by the hoard. BANK OFFICERS ARE REELECTED First Bank of Berne Stockholders Hold Annual Meeting Today The annual meeting of the stockholders of the First Bank of Berne was held this morning at which time it was announced tha-t the bank had successfully passed the test to become a member of the temporary deposit insurance fund. dt was also announced that the profits in the bank were now insured up to a total of $2,500 for each ! customer. This insurance fund became effective at once. At the meeting Levi H. Sprunger was re-elected president; Andrew ! Gottschalk, vice-president: Elmer W. Baumgartner, cashier; Frieda Lehman, assistant cashier; Brice Bauserman and L. K. Lehman, tellers. and Helen Braun, bookkeeper. The directors of the bank are Levi A. Sprunger, Andrew Gottschalk, E. W. Baumgartner, Levi Moser, .Albert N. Sprunger, A. J. Moser and C. H. Sprunger. Berne Doctor Files Report Berne, Jan. 2 —(Special)— The annual report of Dr. D. I). Jones, secretary of the Berne board of health shows 25 births and 22 deaths for the year 1933. In 1932. there were 26 births and 21 deaths in Berne. Two cases of contagious disease were listed during the year. Drum Corps W ill Meet Wednesday The drum corps of Adams post j number 43 of the American Legion will meet in the Legion hall on j South Second street Wednesday night at 8 o’clock. All members are urged to be present. o *BUYS HEALTH BONDI ♦ -• The local MaBuy Chrlitma* Seal* sonic Lodge has purchased | ,±ChrisfnSP^'j > ;l ' m county LT Cm-htM* j Tuberculosis Fight Tuberculosis Association. I W. Guy Brown announced today. I

VHrslatnl Hj f'altrd Frew

CONGRESS WILL MEET TUESDAY IN WASHINGTON Democratic Leaders Predict Short, Harmonious Session TWO CONFERENCES HELD YESTERDAY Washington, Jan. 2. — iU.R) — The Democratic majority bristled with confidence and optimism today as its leaders predicted a short and harmonious session for the congress which convenes tomorrow. Republicans organized for the 19.‘>4 elections with a campaign plan designed to bring all sections of the party together fur a unified effort to return to power. Two lengthy conferences yesterday served to tighten more firmly than ever before President Roosevelt’s control of congress. The first was that of the senate steering committee. The second came last night, when Mr. Roosevelt conferred for three hours with Democratic leaders of both houses. "We settled everything to our satisfaction," said Speaker Rainey as he stood for a moment under dripping White House eves at conclusion of the conference. The President’s budget message, which will go to congress later in the week along with the annual report of the secretary of the treasury. wa3 read to the cohferees and discussed at length. Particular importance was attached to this because of predictions which have hf.cn made concerning the size of the deficit which the message will reoort. Mav 1 is the objective for adlonrnment of congress. The congressional delegation cg'd monetary nolicies had not been discussed at the White House. Tbe Intricate question of gold and silver were talked over at the senate gathering in the afternoon, however. The disposition was to support the Pres'dent in whatever urogram he chooses to follow. Significance was read into the Pennhlican plans because of the preponderance of westerners oil the senatorial campaign committee announced bv Minority Leader McNary. and because of the declar ation for a unified Republicanism. Senator Hastings. Renn , Del., is chairman of the committee. Ho will be counted upon to carry the election drive through the east. Vice-Chairman Dickinson, Republican senator from lowa and keynoter at the 1932 Republican convenPONTTNUF.D TO T ACfE FIVE LAGUARDIA TO ‘CLEAN HOUSE’ New York’s Fusion Mayor To Oust Tammany Hall Supporters New York, Jan. 2— (U.R)— Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, barely settled in his new city hall “home,” gathered together Ills fusion cabinet today for a thorough house cleaning to remove all trace of Tammany Hall’s 18 years of occupancy. With the pledge that each aide would have a free hand In the eonduc of his department. La Guardia ordered his lieutenants to "clean house and clean it thoroughly.” Then he gave a lesson or two in handling the broom. He began his first busy day in office yesterday by rushing to police beadnuarters where Maior General John F. O’Rvan was i sworn in as police commissioner. In a terse, impromptu address be demanded that police rid the city of rackets and racketeers. Eight a ’d one-half hours earlier a moment before the new year was ushered in. La Guardia took the oath at the home of his friend and campaign manager. Samuel Seabury, who as investigator of municipal corruption upset the Tammany apple cart. “I want to see you when I’m 1 **rONTTNUED ON PAGE TWO)

Price Two Cents

Preble Bank Given Insurance Approval Clarence Smith, cashier of the ; Farmers State Bank at Preble, today received word that the _ bank’s application for membership in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation had been approved. According to the provision of federal deposit law. all deposits I not exceeding $2,500 are insured, ! under the temporary federal deposit insurance fund. More than 65 percent of the deposits In the bank come under the insurance clause. If a depositor has less than $2,500 in the hank, including certificates, checking and savings accounts, all the amounts are insured. ROOSEVELT MAY GIVE MESSAGE President May Address Congress In Person As Session Opens Washinglon, Jan. 2—(U.R)—lndications that Preside.it Roosevelt would address congress in person when it convenes tomorrow increased today when a ramp was constructed on the terrace outside the cabitol. The ramo ran (mm ’lie terrace of a side door of the house wing aid would permit the President to enter easily. Sneaker Rainey, who last week said the President would no* deliver his message in person, admitted todav there was a nosslbi'ify of Mr. Roosevelt appearing before congress. Should the Presidcn* annear in person, both senate and house will he assembled lb the house chamber. Otherwise, clerks will read the President’s message. Mr. Roosevelt denied himself to a'l bn* a few ca'lers today in order to have amnle time to comniele both his regular message and budget message. He remained in his studv at the Whi p rtnu«e instead of gnine to the executive offices so that he rnu’d work without interruntion. It was exnec*ed that tlm President's message on the state of the linin', would he comnle f ed in time to havp i‘ ready for distribution shortly before congress meets. np,p Vmrfeet niess->ee is expected ♦o be delivered Thursday. e o|i"° Prigns Down Half A Cent 'lndianapolis. Ind.. Jan. 2—(UP) A new year’s present to Koosier motorists was presented by gasoline companies yesterday when fuel prices were cut one-half cent. The reduction was made possible by the removal of a half-cent from the 1M cent federal tax. When the tax was imposed, it was provided that the half-cent reduction would be made on Jan. 1 following the repeal of the eighteenth amendment. Famous Chinese Statesman Dead Hongkong, Jan. 2—(UP) —Dr. C. 1 C. Wu, former Chinese minister at Washington and prominent in international affairs, died suddelny today His death occurred within three hours after a cerebral embolism developed, Doctors said. Dr. Wu, born in 1886 was the son of Dr. Wu ting fang. Also a former Chinese minister to the United States-. The younger Wu was educated in Washington and Atlantic City, N. J., high schools In the United States. H- was valedictorian of the 1904 class at the latter school. Later he studied in England and was graduated from London University and admitted to the bar there in 1911. Two CWA Workers Burned To Death Columbus, Wis., Jan. 2—(U.R)— Two men were burned to death : today when a truck, carrying 900 1 pounds of explosives for civil 1 works projects at Mavville, crashr ed Into a road sign, exploded and “ caught fire two miles southwest of here. The dead are Wil'iam 1 j Durkin, 25, the driver, and George Pitol, 21, both of Madison.

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GUARANTEE OF BANK DEPOSITS NOW IN EFFECT All Deposits of $2,500 Or Less Are Insured In Full By Plan COVERS MAJORITY OF ALL DEPOSITS W ashinglon. Jan. 2 — (UR) — Deposits of 07 out of every 100 Americans with htink accounts were insured in tuH today against failures as the federal government nut into operation its elaborate deposit uuarantee program. Walter J. Cu in in in gs, chairman of the Federal Denosit Insurance corporation, reported to Presiden’ Roosevelt last night that 13,423 of the country's banks had been admitted under lie plan, which provides insurance for all deposits of $2,560 or less. These accounts make up more than 90 ner cent of the $42,000,000,000 (Bl now on deposit in American banks. Clerks In Cummings’ offices in the National Press building worked al' Christmas day, New Year's eve and New Year's day producing the thousands of policies and o*her documents necessary to put the history-making program in operation. About 1.000 onerating banks e’’her were voluntarily or involuntarilv without the insurance. Some hankers could not meet tbe requirements. Others insisted hev did not need insurance to safeguard their depositors. Cummings said that 14,140 )\->nv« now are ODerating on an unrestricted basis, exclusive of some 600 mutual savings banks, ma 'v of which also are operating normally. A teal of 141 banks, Cummings renorted to the President, are ineligible for insurance because they could not qualify. Manv o'her hanks. Cummings told the Uni’ed Press later, particularly in the states of Ka.’sas and Texas, could not annly for insurance because of state laws. He estimated 424 banks in Kansas and 154 in Texas were affected in ’his manner. All of the 6.033 federal reserve member banks automatically came under the insurance plan while 7.390 member state and mutual savings banks had been effected. Banks not yet under insurance will be received in'o the corporation. Cummings said, as rapidly as they can qualify, desire to come i.r or are permitted by state law. Chairman Jesse Jones of the RFC, has pledae-d several hundred million dollars of government money to banks needing addl’ional capital to qualify for deposit insurance. More tha $700,000,000 frnM’TTVTTRn nv ftvfj) WOMAN SOUGHT FOR MURDERS Woman Is Sought After Slayirff Husband. Sister Massillon, 0., Jan. 2 — (UP) — Farmlands and creek beds uear Massillon were searched today by posses seeking trace of Mrs. Edith Christman, 47, wanted for the double slaying of her estranged husband and his sieter. Mrs. Christman, mother of five children by a former husband, last was seen as she fled through fields after shooting to death her husband Roy 94, and the sister-in-law, Miss Iva Christman, 47-year old invalid, at their home two miles south of here. Deputy sheriffs advanced the theory the slayings were prompted by jealousy and feared the woman would attempt suicide. Her footsteps were traced to the bank of I Sippo Creek and were lost in the high grase growing along the ; stream. Christman, prosperous poultry farmer, was shot through the back as he milked a cow at the rear of his home. He staggered to the barnyard, then collapsed. After -shooting the husband, Mrs. Christman ran to the home where her sister-in-law was preparing a meal, opened the door and started '(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)