Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 44, Number 189, Decatur, Adams County, 12 August 1946 — Page 1

»LIV. No. 189

■PA DECONTROL BOARD OPENS HEARINGS

Kes Ruling Knounced Kishinsky general Debate |Kalian Treaty ®esent Time M \ u _- I.- <«!’> Andrei llUKsia today de- • unfair" ti ruling by ~f u.it. i.iiihx F. Byrne*. H uirman of the- peace H. that there should not K. n ..> ,1 <l< 'in the Halat K. .ot.Kk <>n the Byrnes .|. lull’ on Italy < alite |K\ .. . Oti.l S"S-ion of the - ( nf< re'h <■ unanimously l >e first nieetinK of the A./ \lballia. Mexico. ('ll I > elate their views «B a'y se-aion and in the commission. asked that hU name K, .1 list of speakers this K (or general debate on the liyrnea refused to riil. 'i tint if the Ruttians make mu h a motion us-I^L'>;•-I.'Ill••• had Heard Vugojk on the statement Sat-' ■ premier Alclde de Gasperi BB they i otild do so. But it mi to the conference to held. (Ka-h iM'tween IlyrnM and i ante t ear the opening ■c nd meeting. When the ■gs ume to t.te item on ■l.c ' ailing for Yugoslav oh on de Gaaperis stair pointed out that an ■tt had reached not to deflate »n the treaties !11 •' ■ the conference granted ■n to the Yugoslavs to ■ shall recognize their dele- ■ I will not recognize any Byrnes said. afSsky challenged the Byrnes i'o: 'he "surprise" of at It, and said not deny the right of of the conference to |Bt.ily II- added a forma! ifltliai hiw name be put on att> i n >on speakers. sinpiM'd back that the of ioiio.e. h..d the right {■"l its own business and ■< Be said the conference the Yugoslavs the flepeak today on Italy, but It ■ approved general debate. Minded angrily; <B" 1 K'dng to add any more to the list for the after■fcl' a Hie conference votes nation;! were Invited by ■"O' seralon after two hours iMgling over procedure and ■Hiles during which the Sowas defeated by a 15 to d ■hi it opposed a British proo sought admission, but when none of the membera include her. fln tried to get Austria In■hiotig the invited Htntes, usTo Pa Ca i, column *i ” o — K Accidentally ■*ded Saturday ■ Shaekley. 10. O s 330 North •rent, jg recovering from a W ll ' l accidentally self inflictafternoon while on a ■ *rtp. W' 1 was in the act of unloadV calibre rifle when the gun ■ally fired, sending the slug ■ right leg above the knee. went entirely through Bl The accident occurred at ■f** «t the box’! maternal Harv. Beery, south of W' He was taken to the Admemorial hospital for ■" and w a» later released. g p ERATURB READINGS B’ ,m 85 J - 60 ■* 72 WEATHER W*"y Mir and continued ■ Tuwd *y Partly and somewhat warmer Kt^rtlon‘ h K nd * r ”’ , ’ Wm K portion by afternoon ■

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

BULLETIN Waxhinffton, Aug. 12 — (IT) — OPA today boosted price ceilings on new automobiles an average of 7.3 percent, and said still another increase will be granted later. Fields Relates Profiting From Surplus Sales Plan Crack Down On Surplus Property Chiselers In U. S. Washington. Aug. 12— (UP)— Benjamin F Field*, ex-convict and man of many talent*, told a house Investigating committee today that be profited by buying government surplus war materials al below market costs and reselling them to private prisesHe said he frequently called the war assets administrate” government surplus property disposal agency, and that other persons In his office were In constant contact with WAA. Fields said there was "no difficulty" finding out what matef.al the WAA had for sale. 'lt's all catalogued.” he said. Fields explained that a call to unv war assets office sufficed to obtain it)formhtion on surplus property. "You just have to read the sign at the front door." he said. The portly witness, a central figure in the senate Investigation of the Garsson munitions firms, said his usual fee as contract broker In surplus property deals was five percent of the purchase value. He said he also received "a split" of the difference between the cost and sales prices of goods Involved In deals that he arranged. Fields was called to tell, among other things, how he obtained scarce bronze wire screening from the WAA. The committee. Investigating disposal of surplus property, already has heard testimony that Fields sold 539 rolls ct the screening to C. B. Warr, Oklahoma City contractor, for 68000 plus a 64000 commission. To Crack Down Washington. Aug. 12 — (UP(— The war assets administration, preparing to crack down on surplus property chiselers, tod a/ set July 1, 1947, as a target date tor disposal of most of the na tion’s remaining 125,000.000,b00 us war leftovers. Robert M. Littlejohn, new WAA administrator, told regional directors of his agency he hopeif (Turn I'o Psge I. Column 6) 0 Mrs. Mary Miller Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon Funeral services will be held Tuesday for Mrs. Mary E. Miller. 60, who died suddenly Saturday at her home, six miles east of Decatur. Death was caused by coronary occlusion and was unexpected, although she had been In ill health since January. She was born in I’nion township May 17. SUM. the daughter of Henry and Alice Barrone-Schnepp. She was married December 25. 1966, to Clarence N. Miller, who was killed In an accident October 2. 1938. She was a member of the Calvary Evangelical church and the ladles aid society of the church. Surviving are two sons, Orland and Harlow Miller, both of De catur; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Helm, of Decatur, and Miss Ardella Miller, at home; two sisters. Mrs. A. W. Lytle of Decatur. and Mrs. Harley Lytle of F«i«i Wayne; one brother, Elmer Schnepp of Decatur; one halfbrother. Ray E. Corn of Connersville, and three grandchildren. (Turn Ta Psg* t. Column 7)

British Shut Off Port From Jew Refugees Concentrate Ships, Troops At Haifa To Ban All Refugees j Jerusalem, Aug. 12 — (t'P) — Two more battered ships bearing approximately 2.0t*0 Illegal Jewish immigrants arrived today off the barricaded port of Haifa, where the British concentrated war chips, tanks and infantry to guard against outbreaks. Fifteen hundred other illegal immigrants si boa rd five ships in Haifa harbor awaited their fate, while unconfirmed reports circulated that some refugees were to be moved soon to camps in Cyprus. Ashore, meanwhile, the trial of 24 Irgun Zvai la-umi memlters charged with sabotaging the Haifa railroad shop began in the tense atmosphere of a British military court. The* court was held In the “Arab league building." less than a mile from the harbor. The 24 young Jews on trial faced possible death sentences If convicted. Deep mystery surrounded Brittsh military operations and plans for Ike growing throng of refugees. A passenger liner, the Empire Rival, was moored at the cargo Jetty and four landing craft converted into floating cages waited in the harbor. It was rumored that the Empire Rival would be used to transport future immigrant arrivals to Cyprus Earlier reports that the 1.500 already In the harbor would be mewed to Cyprus were unconfirmed and appeared less prole rble. The 24 Jews on trial are the survivors of 33 who allegedly engaged troops when they ran into a road block on June 17 after Mining the railroad shops. Seven were killed outright and two died later. (A I-ondon News Chronicle dispatch from Famagusta, Cyprus, said workers had been summoned for duty at 4:30 a. m. Monday following reports that six shipload* of Jewish immigrants were expected there. The London Daily Express said the first im migrant ship was due in Cyprus (Turn To Page 3. Column 6) World War II Ended Year Ago Wednesday

Official Observance Not Planned Here The first anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked here and throughout the rest of the nation anil world Wednesday, with no official celebration announced for the city of De atur. It waa one year ago on Angus 14 that hostilities, except ,n a few isolated section* of the Pacific, actually were terminated Ruiidents of the city will recall the celebration that tcok place In Decatur on the evening of Auguet 14, after President Truman's broadcast of acceptance of ihe Japa no offer to quit. A parade wne quickly formed to augment the spontaneous and unorganized portion of the celebration. Led by the city site truck, the parade wound it* way through the city’s street* ami I the blowing of whietleu and ringing of bells. While in some cltle* an official celebration has been planned to mark the anniversary, none has been reported to that effect here. Despite the lack of any special program, the day will be remembered by most of the citizenry. Today, on the eve of the first anniversary, a greater percentage of Decatur and Adams county men who served In the armed forces during the war year*, have been returned to tbeir home*. While no official figures have been made available. It is thought that of the estimated 2.300 or more men who entered the armed forces from Adams county, some 1.6-A) or mere have been discharged.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, August 12, 1946.

Dominican Quake Victoms Pray \ A*"* 1 ; * *• w" I |y ’ fl?' Ai -- DEVOUT NATIVES of the Dominican Republic led by a priest (right) pray for an end to the series of temblors that have been striking the Island. The latest shocks are reported to have knocked down many buildings thath managed to escape in the first tremors which came more than a week ago and killed scores of persons.

Government Not To J Seize Case Plants Farm Goods Plants Struck Six Months Washington. Aug. 12 — tVP» - The white house announced today that President Truman had decided that the government will not seize the struck farm machinery plant* of the J. I. Case Co. Farm equipment plant* owned hy Case and Alli»-('halniers Coin.; have been strike-bound for more than six months In a wage dispute. The white house said nothing today about Allis-Chalmers. But officials cluse to ihe situation said It was a fair assumption that the -ame nonmeixure decision »f< Mr. Truman would also apply to Allis-Chalmers. Seizure of the plants was r<-j commended by secretary of Labor la-wis B. S< hwellenbach and sccre tary of agricultural Clinton P.t Anderson as long ago a* June 1. They said production of the nine struck plant* was needed t.» as sure machinery for maxium crop harvests. Ross said Mr. Truman was guided in the decision hy the principle that seizure should be ordered only when public welfare I* involved. "This Is not considered a national emergency," Ross sad. Ros* said the announcement was made at this time "in vi-w <>t the .igitatieii that ha* I larilil on about the whole case." Ross said that the labor depart ment still is trying to effect a settlement of the disputes through conciliation. Press secretary Charles O. Roa* said "the President came to this conclusion after much delilwra lion and has decided that It would not he in the public Interest to seize these plants.” Three CIO unions representing 25.000 workers are involved In the disputes with the two companies. The United Auto Workers represents employes at the two' struck Case plants and two of the Allis Chalmers plants. Including the largest one at West Allis, Wis. The United Farm Equipment Workers represents employes at three and the United Electrical Workers at two AllisChalmers plants. All of the unions demand a wage increase of 18% cents an hour, adjustment of incentive piece rates, union security and (Turn To Pans $. Column <) o

No One Injured As Two Autos Collide No one wao hurt at 9 a m Sunday when ears driven by Peter Hess, of route four, Decatur, and Earl Harmon. of North Third street, collided In the 700 block on West Monroe street. The crash occurred as Hess drove his auto away from the curb. Police chief Ed Miller estimated the damage to the two autos at 6125.

Auction Instructor To Speak To Lions George Borum. auction school'instructor and a professional chalk artist, will present a program of entertainment for memliers of the Decatur Lloim club at the weekly meeting Tuesday evening at 6:30 o'clock in the Knight* of Pythias home. o To Call Grand Jury In Poisoning Deaths 62-Year-Old Widow Suspect In Deaths DuPont. Ind. Aug 12 — (UP) Attorneys of 62-year-old Lottie lan-kman. who described herself as “a friend of everyone", made i susprl*e move today to free her from charges of poisoning persons left in her care. Joseph Cooper and hi* son. Eugene, counsel for Mrs. Lockman. a matronly housekeeper, ask authorities to exhume immediately the bodies of two other persons who died while Mrs Lockman was caring for them.

Mrs. Lockman was being held on a murder charge as a result I of laboratory test* which revealed traces of mercury in the the organs of Mr*. Minnie McConnell. 75. who died a year ago. She also wa* charged with attempting to poison Mr*. Mamie McConnell. 52. daughter in-law of the dead woman. The Coopers asked the sheriff and state police officials to exhume the bodies of Mr*. Ix»ckman's husband. Frank, and Fred Giddings, a retired farmer. The elder Coojier contended that ff no poison was found in their bodies it would prove that the McConnells were . poisoned by "someone not now I” jail." He said that Mr*. Lockman rarely prepared food for the McConnells and that most of the looking for them was done hy "three or four other persons." "If there is no poison in the iHMlles of her husband or Giddings." he elder Cooper said, "that would prove she is Innocent liecause she had exclusive care of those two. while she fed the .McConnells only six or eight times a month” Cooper said that if the state did not exhume the bodies immediately the defense would stand the expense. "I'm satisfied my client is Innocent." he said , Mrs. Lockman. after a night in Jail, said she had "slept like a baby because there was nothing to keep me awake." "There are others who probably had something on their minds to keep them awake.” she said. Cooper said that all Mr*. Ixx’kman got out of Giddings* estate wa* a house which she sold for 61 000 and 6250 which went for funeral expenses, "and she took care of him seven years." Officials did not plan to exhume (Turn To Pag* 3, Column 7)

Grain Industry Leaders Demand Government Keep Hands Off Prices

County’s Tax Rate Boosted 28 Cents 68-Cent Rate Sought In County Budgets Adam* county's proposed tax rate collectable in 1947 is 6S cents on eaih lino of taxable*, an increase of 2X cents over the 1946 levy, the budget of estimate completed today by Thurman I. Drew, county auditor, discloses. The budget itself i« not much higher than the 1946 estimates, but due to depletion of ihe general operating fund, a larger amount in the operating balance is requested. the auditor explained In round figures, last year's bud get totaled 1263.006. which amount was reduced by the county council to 82W.000 The budget for next year totals 1270,000. A 68-cent rate will produce ap proximately 2200.000. baaed on the county's net valuation of 629,354,432. Highway Budget Although the highway department filed a budget for 6118.985, the auditor has not computed atty revenue from taxathvn for this department above the estitnuted income of 6110.506 from the gaso line tax l.a*t year, when the highway department filed a Wndget which exceeded the estimated amount of gas tax Income, the state board disapproved of the request. stating that the law pre vented raising of additional Income for highway*. Hospital Budget The deficit in the .Memorial hospital budget is one reason for increasing the tax rate The husplful trustees filed a budget for SH3.OO(t and the estimated income for next year Is given at only 696.0(H). making It necessary to levy the equivalent of a six-cent rate to raise the additional 617.000. 'in former years the hospital has not a-ked for taxation funds to operate Hie institution, the estimated expenses being offset with' a similar amount of income. In the case of last year, the budget (Turn Ho Page J, Column 7)

Shower Os Rockets Probed In Sweden Mysterious Rocket Shower Under Probe Stockholm. Aug. 12 (UP) - The Swedish army .-ent investigators today to central Sweden where rocket* were reported to have crashed last night during a veritable shower of the* mysterious missiles. The first reports seeping through a military blackout Indicated the army Investigators found nothing at the scene of the reported explosions. They gave rise to t theoiqr that the rcekets are made of material of which little or nothing is left when they explode Iu the air. The strange rockets zoomed through the Swedish skies in Kiester number than ever before. An army source said the visitation was regarded as "most serious." He said the time had come for an all-out effort to estahlisii oil gin of the rockets. .Most unconfirmed theories wenthat the Russians were exfwTlmentlng with rockets or flying bombs and German scientists weie helping them with their* work. The Baltic was the- favorite testing zone for the Nazi V.weapona during the war. Peenemuende, village In Pomerania near the Baltic, was one of the Nazis* big gest bases for secret weapon). Rockets were reported to have crashed at three points or monIn central Sweden last night. In dispatching investigators, military authorities hinted that they wen(Turn To Page 5, Column 7)

Army Smashes Global Black Market Ring Ring Operated By New York Family Reported Smashed Berlin. Auk 12- <VP> ~ Tl '" V. S. army reported today that its agents had smashed a multimillion dollar global black market i'.ng operated by a New York lamily with sons in Berlin, Paris, Xew York and Shanghai. Criminal investigation division men said two of th*- round-the-world black marketeers were arrested a few days ago. one in Berlin and one In Pari*. The New York and Shanghai memiters were reported still at large cut officials said they "are being taken care of." The agents seized bales of let- • ter* and t ables in Paris an I Iler- ’ lln which they said unfolded the ' entire operating plan Copies of 11 each letter written by any member of the family were sent to all ‘| the others. •I CID officials said the cang I members were; • Li-wis Warner, 22, former air • force lieutenant and now meteorologist for American overseas • airlines in Berlin Robert Warner, former navy lieutenant ami now traffic man ager for the I'NRRA In Shanghai Oscar Selig Warner. 29. former navy lieutenant recently operating a so-called export import . business In Paris. Al Warrn-r, an exporter in , New York David Warner, father of the brother*, who allegedly worked with all from headquarter* at 253 West 72ml St . N. w York The officers said they had found evidence that the Warner* were dealing in almost every kind of black market goods. Including diamonds, cigarets, rugs, silks, penicillin, currency, perfumes, vatches, clothes and the like The ring was described as the liiggest uncovered in years. Two of tlie brothers. Oscar in Paris ami la-wi* in Berlin, have been under arrest for several days, CID officers reported. Military authorities in Berlin have notified the war department in Washington of the evidence. The New York ami Shanghai I members. Including a French woman partner of Robert Warner, (Turn T<> Page 5. Column 7) O Auction School To Close Here Friday

Graduate Largest Class In History The 52nd semi-annual term of the Reppert chool of auctioneering today entered its third and final week, as the school heads made plan* for the graduation exercises. Graduation ceremonies for the more than 200 student* enrolled in the present term of the school will lie held Friday noon at the Knight* of Pythia* home. It has been announced by Miss Eleanor Rep|s-rt. manager of the- school Diplomas will be presented at that time and a short commencement ceremony is being arranged Classes will be continued throughout Friday, however, and Saturday morning for students staying over after the ceremonies, Ml** Reppert stated. The auction sales will continue nightly this week on the platform on Madison street, near Second, through Thursday. The class is the largest Iu the history of the school.

Price Four Cents

Hearings Opened To Determine Need To Restore Ceilings On Food Products Washington. Aug. 12—(VPI — Repn-sentativee of farmers and th<» grain Industry, in rapid fire succession. urged today that the government leave p ice controls off grains and other '.arm products. A long list of witness** appeared before ihe decontrol laiurd on the first of four days of public hearitigs on whether to n-store price* controls on grains. Ihcstm k. meat, dairy products, cottonseed and *<»ybean*. The board must make a decision next week. Today's hearing was devoted primarily to grains. But the American farm bureau federation said that farmer* are against the return of both price controls and euli»idle« on agricultural product* in general. Spokesmen for grower*, millers ami traders testified that current ami prospective Mtppl.es make it unnecessary to restore price ceilIngH on grains. They were the first of nearly 190 witnesses scheduled to appear at four days of hearings before tho b ard, which the new OPA law set. up a* the nation's supreme pricing I authority. The board * first major task is to determine whether to restore price controls on grains, meat, milk and other dairy product-. cottonseed and soybeans. Price ceilings on these itetne - making up the bulk of America'* f ods will he restored automatically Aug 2! unless the board rule* that they should continue free of price control. The board also muse determine whether to r.eutne subsidles, ami. if so. to what extent. Poultry, eggs, tobacco and fietrolcum price ceilings will remain off ■unless the board specifically directs the OPA t > restore them. Board chairman Roy 1,. Thompson. a New Orleans banker, said in in opening statement that th«board war! appro aching the "l>eclouded price issue with an open mind, fully aware of the "tremendou responsibilities placed upon Us " As the verdict of food prlctws must lie iuimled down within eight, day*, the hiard limit—l most witnesses to 15 minute* each, with only five major organization* getting 3 minute* each. Today's hearfna* were devoted tn grain, witli moat scheduled for dl»ctMsion tomorrow, cottonseed and soybeans Wednesday and dairy product* Thursday A epikesman for the American Farm Bureau federation, today’* first witness, aaid farmers wanted neither subsidies nor price controls. Edward A O'Neal, federation president, testified that thi* season's record grain i tops demonstrated that it is better to let market prices adjust themselves rather than attemp to roll them back on "a temporary and arbitrary baeis." "Farmers are convinced mom than ever that c tnsumera subsidies, a* a means of controlling price* ar«« detrimental not only to farmer*, but Io the entire economy." O'Neal said "One of the inoet significant contribution* that could be mado to the control of inflation would b<« for those responsible for price control to return to the treasury at tho end of th!* fiscal >ear the 6869.0 M- . appropriated for subsidy payment*." One of the country's biggest grain dealer*. Cargill, Inc., submitted a statement that price control* crop forecasts and the prospects that the I'nited States will hav» a were unneeded because of good large grain carryover at the end of (Turn To i’ags i. Column 5) o One Arrest For Theft Os Mussolini's Body Milan. Aug 12. tl'P) —Pollcu said today they have a>-resied Father Enrico Zucca, director of the Franciscan Angeiicum convent, iu connection with the theft of Mussolini's lioiiy. Police, howeve*. refuse to reveal the exact charges against Father Zucca.